California Representative Eric Swalwell, a front-runner in the race for governor, is facing accusations of sexual assault and misconduct from four women, including a former aide who claims he raped her.The allegations involve a high-profile Democrat using his political stature to groom younger women in their twenties before engaging in inappropriate sexual messaging or non-consensual physical contact, reports CNN. Swalwell is a married father of three and has issued a denial. He has called the claims “false” and politically motivated lies timed to disrupt the upcoming election.His legal team has already issued cease and desist letters to two of the accusers, warning of legal action if they continue to speak out. However, medical records, text messages, and corroborating statements from friends and family members have emerged to support the women’s accounts.
The former staffer: Allegations of rape and physical injury
The most severe accusation comes from a woman who began interning for Swalwell in 2019 at the age of 20. She eventually joined his campaign and district office, where she says the congressman initially made her feel “like the coolest person in the room.”She alleges that after a night of heavy drinking in September 2019, she blacked out and woke up naked in Swalwell’s hotel room. She said she could “feel physically” that sexual contact had occurred. In a separate incident that same year, she claims he pressured her into performing oral sex on him in a car.The woman alleges the abuse culminated in April 2024 at a gala in New York City. After drinks at a hotel bar left her heavily intoxicated, she says she regained consciousness in Swalwell’s bed.“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” she told CNN. “He didn’t stop.”She described waking up the next morning alone, wrapped in a blanket, with “cuts and bruises” on her rib cage and thighs. CNN reviewed medical records from a health clinic she visited days later for testing, where a provider referred to her as “a survivor.”
The political aspirant: A ‘blur’ in a hotel room
A second woman, who connected with the congressman over her interest in Democratic politics in 2025, described a similar “starstruck” admiration turning into a traumatic experience. After weeks of texting, the pair met in person while Swalwell was visiting her city.She alleges that during a night at a bar, Swalwell repeatedly touched her leg and kissed her without consent. She eventually lost her memory of the evening and woke up in his hotel room. Uber receipts show she left the hotel at 5:41 am.The woman described her experience as a “blur” and said she felt “disgusted and ashamed.” When she later messaged Swalwell telling him “all you did was harm me,” he replied: “I won’t bother you again! Sorry.”
Ally Sammarco: Unsolicited nudes and late-night runs
Social media creator Ally Sammarco is one of the women who chose to be named. She first reached out to Swalwell on Twitter in 2021 to discuss politics. What began as professional advice quickly turned into an “inappropriate” Snapchat exchange.Sammarco claims the congressman sent her unsolicited photos of his genitals and shirtless selfies while he was drinking. She noted a said that while she was 24 and out with friends, he was a sitting congressman “drunk texting” her.She also alleged that Swalwell would run past her apartment building several times after learning where she lived. Although they remained in occasional contact, she said she stopped responding to his sexual advances once she entered a serious relationship.
The marketing professional: A four-year pattern of explicit content
A fourth woman, working in marketing, alleged that Swalwell initiated contact with her in 2021 after she liked his social media posts. She told CNN that their conversation turned sexual after a month, with the congressman requesting nude photos and sending unsolicited videos of his penis.“When you’re getting unsolicited d**k videos sent to you, it just makes you feel like I’m lesser than a person,” she said.The two never met in person, but the digital relationship lasted four years.
