Voters Weigh Allegations as Ethics Inquiry, Criminal Probes Grow for Swalwell

After sexual assault allegations against Rep. Eric Swalwell surfaced late last week, constituents in his East Bay district expressed a mix of skepticism and disappointment, even before the congressman moved to end his campaign for California governor.

Speaking at Stoneridge Shopping Center in Pleasanton on Sunday, hours before Swalwell dropped out, Julie Valentine of Livermore questioned the timing of the allegations.

“It just seems a little too opportunistic that it happens at this moment,” she said. “I think that this kind of thing destroys careers, so it’s probably over, but who knows if it’s true or not, we’ll find out.”

At the same location, Melissa Estepa of Hayward said she felt let down by a candidate she had once viewed as a rising political figure.

“I was really excited about him and thought he would be the prime candidate,” she said. “It’s just another man in power abusing women. So it’s not surprising, but it’s still very disappointing.”

Swalwell announced Sunday that he was dropping out of the governor’s race as pressure mounted from fellow Democrats and former aides. He resigned from Congress on Monday.

The swift political downfall accelerated Friday after the San Francisco Chronicle published interviews in which an unnamed former staff member alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her in both 2019 and 2024 when she was too intoxicated to consent. She said the encounters followed repeated advances from the East Bay congressman, both on Snapchat and in person.

Later Friday, CNN aired an interview with the same woman and reported that three additional women also made sexual misconduct allegations against the congressman, including allegations that he sent unsolicited nude photos and explicit text messages.

Swalwell has denied the allegations, calling them “flat false,” and said in a video posted Friday that the encounters “did not happen.”

“I will fight them with everything that I have,” he said.

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office said it is evaluating whether any alleged criminal conduct occurred within the county and described the accusations as “deeply concerning and disturbing.”

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has also reportedly opened an investigation into the 2024 allegation, which the accuser said occurred in New York.

Swalwell has not been charged with a crime. A representative for Swalwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment following his decision to end his campaign.

Swalwell is under investigation by the House Committee on Ethics over allegations of sexual misconduct.

“The committee has begun an investigation and will gather additional information regarding whether Rep. Eric Swalwell violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law,” the panel said Monday.

The political fallout widened over the weekend.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, said he supports ethics and law enforcement investigations, telling Fox News: “This shouldn’t be about politics … anyone who abuses, uh, young girls and staffers should not be in the United States Congress.”

Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-San José, said credible claims require a full investigation and that Swalwell should resign if the allegations are substantiated.

Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, said he would support expelling Swalwell from Congress if he does not resign, saying he has seen enough to back such a vote.

More than 50 former staffers of Swalwell issued a public letter calling the allegations “serious” and “credible,” urging him to resign from Congress and withdraw from the governor’s race.

“We believe her,” the letter said, adding that the allegations “cannot be dismissed or deflected” and calling for a full law enforcement investigation.

KQED’s Otis R. Taylor Jr. contributed to this story.