Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell ends bid for California governor as he faces sexual assault allegations
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his bid for California governor on Sunday as he faced growing pressure to end his campaign amid sexual assault allegations.
“I am suspending my campaign for governor,” Swalwell wrote on social media. “To my family, staff, friends and supporters, I am deeply sorry for the errors in judgment I have made in my past. I will fight the serious and false allegations that have been made – but this is my fight, not a campaign’s fight.”
Swalwell denied the allegations Friday after a former staffer accused him of sexually assaulting her twice while she was too drunk to consent, among other alleged misconduct.
Swalwell called the allegations “false” and suggested they were politically motivated. He threatened legal action against the anonymous woman, who detailed the alleged encounters in the San Francisco Chronicle, which published a story Friday.
Calls from Democrats to end his campaign were swift. Swalwell, who had won the support of many of the state’s top Democrats, lost support as they expressed horror at the accusations.
In a statement released Friday evening, House Democratic leaders called on Swalwell to immediately end his campaign, but stopped short of urging him to resign from Congress.
“This is unacceptable by anyone — certainly not an elected official — and must be taken seriously,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar of California. “All perpetrators of sexual assault and harassment must be held accountable.”
California’s two Democratic senators, Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, also called on Swalwell to step down. Schiff said he was “deeply distressed” by the accusations.
