Eric Swalwell quits California governor race after sexual assault allegations | California
Rep. Eric Swalwell, the leading Democratic representative in the fiercely contested California governor’s race, has suspended his campaign amid a series of sexual assault and misconduct allegations made by a former staffer and at least three women.
The woman who worked for Swalwell said the California congressman sexually assaulted her twice while she was too drunk to consent, according to a report published Friday by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Three other women also accused Swalwell of misconduct, according to CNN. The women said Swalwell sent them unsolicited nude photos or explicit messages.
One The statement was published on the internetSwalwell said he would “fight the serious, false allegations alleged, but this is my fight, not a campaign’s.”
“On behalf of my family, staff, friends and supporters, I am deeply sorry for the errors of judgment I have made in my past,” he said.
Swalwell, 45, vehemently denied the allegations, saying they were “false” and suggesting they were a concerted effort to derail his campaign.
“I have served the public as a prosecutor and congressman for nearly 20 years and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and take legal action when necessary,” he said in an earlier statement. “My focus in the coming days will be on being there for my wife and children and defending our decades of service against these lies.”
Earlier Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it would launch an investigation into Swalwell, alleging that she “hired a Brazilian national as a nanny without a legal work permit.”
Allegations of violations of immigration law came to light after California filmmaker Joel Gilbert, who made a conspiratorial documentary about Barack Obama in 2012, filed a 68-page complaint with immigration authorities in February.
The sexual assault allegations come as Swalwell, a married father of three, begins to consolidate support in a fluid Democratic field that has yet to produce a clear frontrunner. After several campaign staffers resigned, leading allies and opponents almost immediately began calling for him to drop out of the race. California senator Adam Schiff, one of the most prominent Democrats supporting Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign, withdrew his support and called on him to withdraw from the race, as did senator Alex Padilla, who remained neutral in the contest.
Congressman Jimmy Gomez and Swalwell’s campaign co-chairs Adam Gray resigned.
“My participation in any campaign begins and ends with trust,” Gomez said. “I cannot in good conscience remain in any role in this campaign and I am resigning from this position immediately.”
In a deeply personal rebuke, Arizona senator Ruben Gallego withdrew his support and expressed regret for defending his friend against rumors about the allegations “without knowing all the information.”
Swalwell also lost support from the powerful California Teachers Union, which said support for his campaign was “immediately suspended.” “Our elected board of directors will meet as soon as possible to follow our union’s democratic process and determine next steps,” the union said. a statement on his Instagram account.
Swalwell, in his seventh term representing Northern California, has risen to national prominence as a combative opponent of Donald Trump. Swalwell, an ally of former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, was chosen to serve as impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial, which focuses on his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He briefly ran for president in 2020 but struggled to gain traction and withdrew without any preliminary voting.
He was among the last candidates to enter the race for governor, announcing his candidacy in November on ABC’s late-night show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
His sudden departure sent a jolt through the mixed field that left California Democrats worried that two Republicans could head to the general election in the nation’s largest blue state; This is a quirk of its unique primary system, which rewards the top two vote-getters regardless of party.
Recent polls showed Swalwell with a narrow lead, followed by Republican Steve Hilton, a British-born political consultant, and Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
