Four women describe sexual misconduct by Rep. Eric Swalwell, including a former staffer who says he raped her (www.cnn.com)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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A former staffer of Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading Democratic candidate for California governor, says that the congressman raped her when she was heavily intoxicated and left her bruised and bleeding, an allegation Swalwell strongly denies.

“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” the woman told CNN of the incident, which she said happened in 2024 after she had stopped working in Swalwell’s office. “He didn’t stop.”

She said it was the second time Swalwell had nonconsensual sexual contact with her while she was drunk. In 2019, when she was still working for him, she said she woke up naked with him in a hotel room after a night of heavy drinking. She said she had no memory of what happened but could feel physically that they’d had sexual contact.

Three other women who spoke with CNN also alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by the Democratic congressman – including Swalwell sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.

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[-] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

So, maybe now one of the dems will finally start to poll over 20% and CA won’t be looking at a general election with two republicans l?

[-] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

For nearly 20 years, I have served the public – as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.

Okay, I've only just now read one article and haven't fully formed an opinion yet (seems quite plausible given four independent allegations with corroborating evidence), but for right now, roping your children (seemingly all under 13 judging by a photo) into "our work" a real bitch move that he has to know he was doing as a congressperson and former prosecutor. He mentions no other person – even if he could be implicitly referring to people who work with him, he has to know given a prepared statement that this is an association that sentence creates. (But even then, it's a bitch move to invoke other people into allegations solely against him.)

Aside: Can bad shit please stop happening? Could Swalwell seriously not have allegedly done this? Really, if that's true, man? Because it seems pretty true??

[-] panthera_@lemmy.today 1 points 1 week ago

Matt Mahan is the best Democratic candidate for governor. He will pull votes away from the Republican candidate.

[-] MrSulu@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

No doubt, he will try to explain for all the women. Unlike on Epstein island, one of the victims will be harder to silence.

[-] Hello_there@fedia.io 1 points 1 week ago

He has some PAC backing him funded by dialysis clinics and other questionable entities. That and AiPAC money means he was never a choice for me.

this post was submitted on 11 Apr 2026

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