The California gubernatorial race has been rocked on the Democrat side this week with numerous allegations of sexual harassment against Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-14).
On Friday, however, things got worse for the disgraced, failed 2020 presidential candidate when news broke that he had been accused of sexual assault by a former staffer who says it happened twice when she had been inebriated.
The SF Chronicle reported:
A woman who worked for nearly two years for Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, said she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss and alleged he twice sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent.
[...]
The woman said Swalwell began pursuing her within weeks after she was hired at age 21 to work in the Democrat’s district office in Castro Valley in 2019. Swalwell messaged her on Snapchat, she said, sending images of his genitals and seeking nude pictures of her in return.
She said Swalwell, who is married and 17 years her senior, tried to kiss her in her car when she drove him home from a donor meeting one night. Driving him to another event weeks later, she said Swalwell pulled out his penis in the car and asked her to perform oral sex on him. She said she did so in a parking lot.
In September 2019, the woman said, Swalwell invited her out for drinks and she became so severely intoxicated that she does not remember the rest of the night. She said she woke up naked in Swalwell’s hotel bed and could feel the effect of vaginal intercourse. She said Swalwell distanced himself from her afterward and the relationship faded.
The woman also alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her five years later, when she was no longer a staffer, where, after a charity gala, she was "so inebriated that she only remembers snippets of the night, including pushing Swalwell away and telling him, 'No,' while he allegedly forced himself on her."
A woman who worked for nearly two years for Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, said she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss and alleged he twice sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent, @SophiaBollag @akoseff: pic.twitter.com/dWYhsLoGUr
— Laura J. Nelson (@laura_nelson) April 10, 2026
SEE ALSO: Eric Swalwell Doubles Down, Claims There's 'Never Been an Allegation' of Sexual Harassment
The Chronicle also spoke to two people whom she told after the second assault allegedly occurred, and one of them told the paper that they encouraged the alleged victim to go to the police at the time.
Swalwell's attorney had the following response:
Swalwell’s attorney, Elias Dabaie, wrote in the cease-and-desist letter that the woman had exhibited “the conduct of a loyal and supportive colleague, not a victim” and that “the credibility of your accusations is fatally undermined by your voluntary and cooperative relationship with Mr. Swalwell over the course of many years following the period in question.”
Swalwell's attorney sends out cease and desist notice over unverified sexual assault allegation, reports @dakotacdsmith https://t.co/79p8YxC9Xu
— Seema (@LATSeema) April 10, 2026
The fallout has already started:
NEW: Multiple @ericswalwell staffers have departed as an ex-staffer told @sfchronicle Swalwell sexually assaulted her:https://t.co/erz5bAActs
— Jeremy B. White (@JeremyBWhite) April 10, 2026
Los Angeles, CA - Rep. Jimmy Gomez statement following the release of a San Francisco Chronicle story: pic.twitter.com/WOm4dn7zVT
— Jimmy Gomez (@JimmyGomezCA) April 10, 2026
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to RedState for updates.
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