The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has launched an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against US Congressman Eric Swalwell.
Four women have accused him of misconduct ranging from sexual harassment to rape, including an alleged incident in New York. Swalwell, a leading contender in California's governor race, denies the claims and vows to defend himself with facts.
We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division, said the New York City prosecutor's office.
Representatives for Swalwell, who was elected in 2012 to a district near San Francisco, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In urging accusers to come forward, the district attorney's office said, Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner.
The investigation comes a day after Swalwell described the allegations as false. For nearly 20 years, I have served the public - as a prosecutor and a congressman, and have always protected women, the married father-of-three emphasized, adding, I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action.
The first allegation against Swalwell was revealed publicly by the San Francisco Chronicle, where a former staff member claimed he made inappropriate comments and solicited her for sex shortly after she was hired in his district office. She alleged that Swalwell assaulted her twice, once in September 2019 after drinks and again in 2024 after a charity gala in New York, claiming she was too intoxicated to consent.
The BBC has not verified the account or identity of the accuser but has sought comment from her attorney. Following these disclosures, CNN reported that four women had made similar accusations against Swalwell, leading to cease-and-desist letters being sent by his legal team to two of the accusers.
Swalwell issued a video message on Facebook denying the allegations, stating, I do not suggest to you that I am perfect or a saint... But those mistakes are between me and my wife. Within hours of the allegations surfacing, Swalwell lost crucial support in his gubernatorial bid from prominent figures, including Senator Adam Schiff and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
California's outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom expressed that the allegations were deeply troubling, while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recommended that these matters be investigated outside of a gubernatorial campaign. Swalwell's campaign aides described themselves as horrified by the allegations, which they referred to as abhorrent and inconsistent with the dignity expected of public officeholders.
The timing of these allegations is critical as Swalwell’s campaign competes in a highly competitive Democratic primary to replace Newsom, with the potential risk of the Democratic candidates being overshadowed by Republican contenders in the upcoming June primary.
