Swalwell Denies ‘False, Outrageous’ Harassment Allegations Before Primary Election

California Rep. Swalwell Denies Sexual Misconduct Allegations Amid Gubernatorial Campaign

Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has forcefully denied accusations of sexual harassment against female staffers, responding to claims that multiple women are preparing to come forward with allegations of misconduct. The five-term congressman, currently a frontrunner in California’s gubernatorial race, addressed the controversy during a town hall event in Sacramento earlier this week.

“No, no, it’s false,” Swalwell stated when questioned about the allegations. “Some of the allegations I’ve seen claim that we’ve had NDAs in the office—there’s never been an allegation and there’s never been a settlement. I will also just take stock that we’re 27 days before an election starts.”

The accusations first surfaced on April 6 when activist Cheyenne Hunt, executive director of Gen-Z for Change, claimed on social media that she has been working with “a number of women” who allege Swalwell engaged in sexual harassment and what she described as “potentially criminal conduct” involving congressional staffers, interns, and campaign supporters.

Swalwell’s campaign has responded aggressively to the allegations, with spokesperson Micah Beasley calling them “false” and “outrageous.” In a statement, Beasley suggested the accusations were politically motivated, claiming they were being spread by “flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race.”

The timing of these allegations is particularly significant as California’s primary election approaches. Swalwell, who has represented California’s 15th congressional district since 2013, has built his gubernatorial campaign on his experience in Washington and progressive credentials. Political analysts note that allegations of this nature could potentially derail his campaign if substantiated, especially in a state where Democrats have emphasized accountability in cases of misconduct.

Hunt has pushed back against the campaign’s characterization of the women’s claims as politically motivated. “Smearing survivors with claims that they ‘teamed up with MAGA’ is morally repugnant,” she said in a statement. “These women are brave and deserve to be heard. We are working with legal counsel and the investigative team of a highly reputable outlet to ensure that those stories are told the right way.”

According to Swalwell’s campaign, no ethics complaints have been filed against the congressman during his 13 years in office. They maintain that no non-disclosure agreements have been signed related to any misconduct allegations, a common practice used in settlement agreements to prevent parties from discussing the details publicly.

The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny of workplace conduct in political settings. In recent years, several high-profile politicians from both parties have faced similar allegations, some resulting in resignations or electoral defeats.

California political consultant Marcia Hernandez, who is not affiliated with any gubernatorial campaign, noted that the impact of such allegations depends largely on their substantiation. “Voters are increasingly sophisticated about evaluating claims of misconduct, especially when they emerge during campaign seasons,” Hernandez said. “The critical factors will be whether specific allegations emerge, whether they can be corroborated, and how Swalwell continues to respond.”

Hunt has indicated that the women she’s working with are coordinating with an unnamed media outlet to share their stories publicly. The outcome of this investigation could significantly impact the dynamics of California’s gubernatorial race, where Swalwell has been polling competitively against other Democratic candidates.

The situation highlights the ongoing challenges of addressing claims of misconduct in politics, especially in the lead-up to high-stakes elections. As the primary approaches, both Swalwell’s campaign and those raising allegations have indicated they will continue to press their respective cases to voters.

California political observers note that the state’s top-two primary system, where the two candidates receiving the most votes advance regardless of party, raises the stakes for candidates facing potential scandals. With several viable Democratic candidates in the race, even a modest shift in voter support could determine who advances to the general election.