Swalwell Campaign Denies Sexual Misconduct Allegations Amid Viral Warnings from Democratic Activists

California Congressman Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign has forcefully denied allegations of sexual misconduct toward former staffers and interns as he faces mounting scrutiny less than a month before California’s primary election begins.

The allegations first gained traction when Cheyenne Hunt, a former Capitol Hill staffer who now runs the left-leaning youth political engagement group Gen-Z for Change, began highlighting accusations on social media last week that Swalwell had a pattern of making sexual advances toward women on his staff.

“This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race,” said Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell’s campaign, in a statement to the New York Post.

Hunt’s initial post claimed, “The Democratic candidate currently leading in the California governor’s race has a known history of being predatory towards women.” She shared a screenshot of a private message alleging that Swalwell “has slept with many of his interns and makes them all sign [non-disclosure agreements] so they don’t speak up,” and that the congressman had tried “hitting on me and sliding into my DMs” when the sender was 19 years old.

Since her initial post, Hunt has stated that she has been contacted by numerous other women with similar experiences. “I am personally working with a group of women who want to come forward and share their stories. I am also aware of a much larger group that is also in this process that I am not personally working with,” Hunt said. However, she has not yet provided names or specific details about these additional accusers.

The allegations have begun to gain traction beyond Hunt’s initial posts. Democratic strategist Bhavik Lathia lent credibility to the claims, writing on social media platform X: “Hey, I just got off the phone with a trusted friend. This is real. Take it seriously. Eric Swalwell cannot be our nominee. There is going to be a lot more coming out soon.”

Swalwell’s campaign has categorically denied the allegations. “In 13 years, no one in Eric Swalwell’s Congressional office has ever been asked to sign an NDA. Ever. In 13 years, not a single ethics complaint by any staff in his office or any other office has ever been lodged. Ever,” Beasley told the Post.

Hunt responded forcefully to the campaign’s framing of her allegations as politically motivated. “Smearing survivors with claims that they ‘teamed up with MAGA’ is morally repugnant,” she wrote on X. “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.”

The timing of these allegations could significantly impact the race for California governor, as mail-in voting for the primary begins on May 4, with the primary election scheduled for June 2. Swalwell, a six-term congressman representing California’s 14th congressional district, has been seen as one of the frontrunners in a crowded field of candidates seeking to replace termed-out Governor Gavin Newsom.

Swalwell, 45, has been a prominent national figure since his brief presidential run in 2019 and his role as an impeachment manager during former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. He currently serves on the House Intelligence and Judiciary committees.

The congressman has faced controversy before, including questions about his past association with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative named Fang Fang, though an FBI investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing on Swalwell’s part.

As of publication, Swalwell’s campaign had not responded to additional requests for comment on the developing situation. Political analysts note that how the campaign addresses these allegations in the coming days could prove crucial to Swalwell’s electoral prospects in a state where Democratic voters have historically shown low tolerance for alleged sexual misconduct by political figures.