Dem reverses course on Swalwell support after being accused of smearing victims

California Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) came out against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell following the release of multiple bombshell reports Friday accusing Swalwell of sexually assaulting a former female employee and sexually harassing other female employees.

Amid repeated denials and cease and desist letters sent by Swalwell’s attorney on Thursday, one of the alleged victims went public with her story for the first time, accusing Swalwell of taking advantage of her while she was drunk. The alleged victim’s story also included allegations that Swalwell pressured her to send nude images of himself and sent sexually explicit photos of himself, removing her private parts while driving and demanding she perform oral sex on him; The victim said Swalwell, among other incidents, affected how he treated her professionally.

Young staff recall Swalwell passing out from alcohol consumption on multiple occasions before waking up naked in his hotel bed with signs of sexual intercourse. Swalwell allegedly distanced herself after the incident, and their relationship weakened before they reunited when she no longer worked for him when another incident allegedly occurred.

After the San Francisco Chronicle’s report emerged Friday, a group of Democrats withdrew their support and called for Swalwell to drop out of the governor’s race, and an error page for endorsements appeared on his campaign website. The chairman of the California Democratic Party called the allegations “disturbing,” adding that “the stories of victims and survivors must be heard and believed,” and called on all candidates running for governor in the state of California to step back and gauge the “viability of their candidacy and campaign.”

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“The young woman who made serious allegations against Congressman Swalwell must be respected and listened to,” Pelosi told media outlets. he said. “As I discussed with Svalwell, it is clear that this is best done outside of the gubernatorial campaign.”

“I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s statement and am deeply saddened by the allegations,” Schiff added. “This woman was brave enough to come forward and we must take her story seriously. I withdraw my support immediately and believe she should withdraw from the race.”

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WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 25: U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) (R) with Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) speaks during a press conference on committee assignments for the 118th U.S. Congress at the U.S. Capitol on January 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) recently rejected the reappointment of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) to the House Intelligence Committee and threatened to block Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Former San Jose mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate in California Matt Mahan said Friday: “To the survivor who risked everything to come forward — I believe you. To the Democratic Party — you better hold him accountable.” “If we don’t do this, we don’t have the credibility to ask someone else to do the same. According to Eric Swalwell – drop out.”

“The allegations against Congressman Swalwell are deeply disturbing,” California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks said in a statement. “First, the stories of victims and survivors must be heard and believed. Second, any person who commits misconduct must take responsibility and be held accountable for their actions, including a Member of Congress and a candidate for Governor. Finally, I reiterate, my call for all Governor candidates to ‘honestly evaluate the viability of their candidacy and campaign’ remains valid. In fact, this call is now more important than ever.”

“The allegations against Representative Swalwell are deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” the California Teachers Association said in a statement to X. “We are suspending our support immediately. Our elected board will meet as soon as possible to follow our union’s democratic process and determine next steps.”

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a longtime friend and colleague of Eric Swalwell, is now backing away from his initial support for Swalwell amid sexual harassment allegations the California congressman faced while running for governor.

Then Representative. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., during a 2021 trip to Qatar funded by the U.S.-Qatar Business Council Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif. and are seen with their wives. (FOX NEWS/Tucker Carlson Tonight)

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Earlier this week, Gallego faced backlash for trying to discredit a user who said sexual misconduct allegations against Swalwell on X would result in a “kick”[ing] Gallego also argued in a separate post on social media that Swalwell was “targeted” and suggested that he was the subject of sexual harassment allegations because he was “first in line.”

But by following the bomb report Gallego, published by the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday, changed his tune dramatically.

“I read the San Francisco Chronicle’s report and take it seriously. The narrative is indefensible,” Gallego said on social media after the report on Friday. “Women who come forward with such statements deserve to be listened to respectfully, not questioned or rejected. I regret coming to her defense on social media without knowing all the information. I am both shocked and saddened by what happened.”

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owned by Swawell He vehemently denied the allegations these were first highlighted on social media by Democratic politicians, including Cheyenne Hunt, Arielle Fodor, a former Capitol Hill staffer who is now a nonprofit executive with the group Gen-Z for Change, and a “political content creator,” teacher, and mother who calls herself “Ms. Frazzled” online. On Friday, first-hand information regarding these allegations emerged.

Neither Eric Swalwell nor his attorney responded to Fox News Digital’s questions about the first-hand allegations of sexual harassment against him. Following the San Francisco Chronicle’s report on Friday, CNN He released a separate report stating that three other women they spoke to also made allegations of various types of sexual harassment by the Democratic congressman; This included Swalwell sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.