A former staffer of Eric Swalwell has accused the congressman of sexual assault, alleging he raped her in 2024 while she was heavily intoxicated. Swalwell has strongly denied the allegation, calling it false.
“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” the woman told CNN. “He didn’t stop,” she said. The woman said the alleged assault occurred after a night of drinking in New York, when she later woke up confused in Swalwell’s hotel room. She said she had bruises, cuts and bleeding the next day and sought medical testing shortly after, CNN reported.
She also alleged a prior incident in 2019, when she said she woke up naked in a hotel room with Swalwell after heavy drinking and had no memory of what occurred. “I really don’t remember it at all,” she said she told him.
The former staffer said she did not report either incident at the time and instead kept it to herself. “I just felt so dirty and gross, and it just became a secret that I lived with,” she said.
Three other women also accused Swalwell of misconduct, including claims that he sent unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos. Two women said the exchanges occurred over Snapchat, where messages are automatically deleted.
One woman said she met Swalwell after connecting online about politics and later became extremely intoxicated during a night out with him. She said she ended up in his hotel room with little memory of how she got there.
“He was sitting against me, and every time that I would move away from him, he would get closer,” she said. She added that she felt “really fuzzy” as the night went on.
Another woman, social media creator Ally Sammarco, said Swalwell initially responded to her outreach about politics before the conversations turned personal. She said he later sent inappropriate content, including explicit images, during late-night exchanges.
Several women described a similar pattern, saying Swalwell showed strong personal interest in younger women before interactions became increasingly sexual. Some said they engaged with him in part because of his position of power and influence.
CNN reported it reviewed messages, photos and other materials tied to the claims. Family members and friends of multiple accusers said the women told them about the incidents around the time they allegedly occurred.
In one case, the former staffer shared text messages sent to friends in the days after the alleged 2024 incident. In those messages, she wrote that she had been sexually assaulted and identified Swalwell by name.
Swalwell denied the allegations in statements to CNN and in a video posted to X. “These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false,” Swalwell said. “They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have.”
He has also said the claims surfaced “on the eve of an election” and pledged to defend himself with facts. He added that he has always protected women and would focus on his family.
An attorney for Swalwell sent cease-and-desist letters to two of the women, calling their claims false and demanding retractions. The letters warned of potential legal action if they continued speaking publicly.
Other former staffers told CNN they had no inappropriate interactions with Swalwell and described him as professional and supportive. The allegations surfaced as Swalwell has gained traction in California’s gubernatorial race.
The former staffer said she chose to come forward after hearing others share similar claims and realizing she was not alone. “I’ve lived in fear every single day,” she said.
She said she is not motivated by politics but by wanting to speak out. “The only person who could ruin Eric Swalwell is Eric Swalwell,” she said.