Senior Campaign Staffer Quits, Demands Candidate Pull Out
A bombshell rocked the California governor’s race as Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democratic candidate, faces serious sexual assault allegations from a former aide. The woman claims Swalwell assaulted her twice when she was too drunk to consent. The explosive story has already sparked chaos within Swalwell’s campaign. Jimmy Gomez, Swalwell’s top campaign chair, quit immediately after the allegations surfaced. Gomez slammed the congressman, saying, “Today I learned shocking information about Eric Swalwell containing the ugliest and most serious accusations imaginable,” and called for him to “leave the race now.”
Alleged Assaults Detail Intoxicated Encounters with Swalwell
The accuser, who worked for Swalwell between 2019 and 2021, alleges the first incident happened in September 2019. She says Swalwell invited her out for drinks while she was his employee, and she became so drunk that she can’t remember the night before waking up naked in his hotel bed, aware of “the effect of vaginal intercourse.” The second alleged assault took place in April 2024, after a charity gala honoring Swalwell. The woman claims she again became heavily intoxicated while drinking with the congressman, remembering only “snippets” of him having sex with her in his hotel room despite her saying no.
Text Messages, Medical Records Add Weight to Claims
The Chronicle reviewed texts sent by the woman to a friend days after the second incident, where she said she told Swalwell to stop. Reporters also spoke with her then-boyfriend, who confirmed she disclosed the assault to him and showed medical records proving she sought pregnancy and STD tests afterwards. Swalwell’s campaign has categorically denied the allegations, calling them “false” and accusing opponents of spreading rumours just weeks before the election. In a pre-emptive strike, campaign spokesman Micah Beasley described the claims as “being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists.” Despite denial, these revelations have rocked one of California’s hottest political races and put Swalwell’s campaign on shaky ground just as voting looms.
