On Tuesday evening, Rep. Eric Swalwell addressed accusations of sexual misconduct following a campaign event in Sacramento, dismissing the claims circulating on social media about inappropriate interactions with female staffers as “false.”
Swalwell, a prominent Democratic contender in the California gubernatorial race, stated emphatically, “There has never been an allegation and there has never been a settlement.”
When journalists questioned him regarding any sexual relations with a staffer or intern, Swalwell firmly replied, “No, no, no, no.”
The allegations targeting the congressman from East Bay, who is married with three children, have primarily been spread across social media platforms by a few influencers. These claims suggest Swalwell engaged in inappropriate behavior with younger women linked to his office or campaign.
Earlier on Tuesday, a representative from Swalwell’s campaign released a statement echoing the key points that the congressman later reiterated to the press that evening.
In a Tuesday interview on CNN, former congresswoman Katie Porter, one of Swalwell’s main Democratic opponents in the governor’s race, spotlighted the “very troubling allegations.”
“With regard to Rep. Swalwell, I have seen allegations coming from women staffers,” Porter said. “They are very, very troubling allegations. It’s those women’s stories to tell when they are ready, and I hope they feel safe and supported if they choose to do so.”
Speaking to reporters after a town hall that drew hundreds, Swalwell said neither his congressional office nor his campaign had reached out to the individuals posting the accusations.
“I don’t want there to be any question in the minds of Californians,” Swalwell said.
The allegations come on top of separate questions about Swalwell’s residency in California.
He claims to rent a room in a small Livermore home, but he has frequently stayed at luxury hotels when returning to California over the years. Swalwell also has been crashing at the Beverly Hills mansion of billionaire Stephen Cloobeck and the timeshare mogul’s fiancée, an alleged honeytrapper set to stand trial on six felonies.
The Post interviewed neighbors who live on the same small cul-de-sac where Swalwell claims to live and none of them recognized the congressman.
Swalwell dismissed The Post’s question on why his neighbors said they had never seen him,
“That’s not true,” he said, laughing when asked about the report. “It’s funny, they called me and told me that you did that. So they know who I am.”
Dan Schnur, a teacher of political communications at USC and UC Berkeley, told The Post that Swalwell could weather the allegations of inappropriate behavior, but the final two months before the June 2 election will be both a sprint and a marathon.
“If Swalwell’s denials hold up, it should only be a short-term distraction,” Schnur said. “But while he’s the frontrunner right now, his lead is still fairly precarious. So, if these women start speaking out in public, it could be very costly to him.”
