In a striking turn of events, California Democrat Eric Swalwell, once a prominent figure in state politics, has found himself at the center of controversy. Recently resurfaced footage from September 2022 shows Swalwell relaxing in a bathrobe aboard a yacht, a scene that has added fuel to an already heated situation. The congressman has now confessed to having made certain “mistakes.”

The 45-year-old Swalwell, who was previously considered a leading candidate to replace Gavin Newsom as California’s governor, is now facing serious allegations. This past Friday, four women came forward with accusations of sexual misconduct, putting Swalwell under intense scrutiny.

In response to these allegations, both the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the House Ethics Committee have initiated investigations. The pressure from these inquiries has led Swalwell to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the gubernatorial race and resign from his congressional seat as of Monday.

Despite the gravity of the accusations, Swalwell has firmly denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to contest the claims. Nevertheless, his resignation has further complicated his political career.

The controversy took another turn with a video that emerged on social media, capturing Swalwell enjoying himself on the 200-foot Arience yacht as it cruised the waters around St. Tropez. This footage dates back to a trip in September 2022, raising questions about his judgment and conduct.

‘Everything Stays on the Boat’ 

According to insiders familiar with the excursion, two of Swalwell’s acquaintances flew by private jet from Las Vegas to the glamorous French Riviera, where they rented the yacht and invited the congressman to join their leisure voyage. This revelation has only added layers to the ongoing saga surrounding Swalwell’s personal and professional life.

He then arrived by commercial flight, and joined four or five men on the ship – as well as a group of young women who could be seen in the video dancing around.

One of the women, a Brit believed to be in her late teens, was apparently romantically involved with one of the men in the group, an unidentified source explained.

Yet the five or six other women, a mix of Brits and Americans who were a little older, seemed otherwise unacquainted with the men or with each other. 

‘The people on the boat were told to keep it hush-hush about Swalwell being on the trip,’ a source familiar with the week-long excursion said of the Democrat, who had already been in Congress for nearly nine years at that point.

‘They were told everything stays on the boat.’

Another source familiar with the antics onboard the yacht further claimed Swalwell ‘didn’t seem like a politician.’ 

‘More like president of a frat house,’ the source quipped.

From the Riviera to the Chronicle 

Sources familiar with the trip also said that some of the women were returned to shore, only to be replaced by other women.

They said there was no shortage of alcohol onboard the ship, and the group spent their days jet skiing or lounging on the deck.

But a source insisted they were not specifically aware of Swalwell being sexually or romantically involved with any of the women onboard the ship.

The footage comes just days after multiple women accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct in a bombshell report from the San Francisco Chronicle.

A former staffer also told CNN that Swalwell [sexually assaulted] her while she was drunk. 

The unidentified staffer alleged that the married Swalwell [sexually assaulted] her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent in 2019 and 2024. 

She told CNN that in April 2024, after a night of heavy drinking in New York City, she woke up to Swalwell having [sexual intercourse] with her in his hotel bed.

‘I was pushing him off of me, saying no,’ she said, adding that it happened after she stopped working in his office. ‘He didn’t stop.’ 

Others, including Ally Sammarco, 28, a DC-based political content creator, then came forward to share their stories.

They’re Abusing Authority 

She said she messaged Swalwell in 2021 in hopes of discussing politics. 

At that point, Sammarco said the congressman ‘became very inappropriate, like saying about how hot he thought I was, insinuating we should get together and hook up.’

‘I thought I was the only one that had this experience with him,’ she told NBC. 

‘These people have authority, and they’re abusing it. I want to validate what these women are saying, and I feel like he needs a public reckoning in some way, or he’s just going to continue doing this.’ 

Sammarco went on to allege that Swalwell would ‘drunk text’ her and send her photos of himself in bed or shirtless, along with the [unclothed] images. 

‘I truly never thought he would respond – I had like 1,000 followers at the time,’ she told CNN. ‘And he responded.’

The pair went back and forth, eventually exchanging phone numbers and messaging practically every day, she told the outlet. 

Another woman said that Swalwell kissed her and touched her leg without consent.

She said she woke up [unclothed] the next morning in his hotel room without realizing it was his, and said she still has flashbacks of the representative grabbing her as she told him ‘no.’

The Fall of Swalwell 

Almost immediately following the damning report, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office launched an investigation into the claims and the House Ethics Committee announced on Monday that it, too, was investigating the top Democrat.

Amid the backlash, Swalwell announced on Sunday that he was suspending his campaign for governor, saying he was ‘deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.’

‘I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,’ he said at the time.

Just one day later, Swalwell also announced he was resigning from Congress.

‘I am deeply sorry to my family, staff and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility for the mistakes I did make,’ he said in a statement.

He added that he was aware of efforts to force an immediate expulsion vote, warning that removing a lawmaker without due process ‘within days of an allegation being made’ would be wrong.

‘But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties,’ he said. ‘Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.’

Swalwell said he would work with his staff in the coming days to ensure his district continues to be served after his departure.

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