Swalwell Denies Staffer Assault Allegations as Endorsements Drop

California Democratic congressional representative and gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell faced mounting political pressure on Friday after a former staffer publicly accused him of sexual assault and misconduct during and after her employment in his office. The allegations, which emerged amid his campaign for governor, prompted several prominent Democrats to withdraw their endorsements and urge him to exit the race.

The former staffer, who worked in Swalwell's Castro Valley district office starting in 2019 at age 21, described a series of encounters beginning shortly after she was hired. She alleged that Swalwell pursued her via Snapchat, sending explicit images of himself and pressuring her to reciprocate with nude photos. She claimed two incidents of assault occurred while she was heavily intoxicated and unable to consent: one in 2019 after drinks he suggested, where she blacked out and awoke in his hotel room with signs of intercourse; and another after she left his office. In one episode, she said he exposed himself in a car and requested oral sex. The woman stated the interactions strained her professional relationship with Swalwell, who grew distant afterward, and...