Mayor Karen Bass, and former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Saturday joined the growing list of elected officials, and others, calling for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell to end his candidacy and resign from Congress after at least four women accused him of sexual misconduct — including a former staffer.
“Mr. Swalwell should end his campaign and resign from Congress immediately,” Bass posted on the X social media platform. “His conduct is incompatible with elected office. The women who came forward deserve to be heard and deserve justice.”
Villaraigosa, who is also a candidate for governor, issued a statement saying, in part that “reporting on the horrific allegations that Eric Swalwell abused his position and repeatedly sexually assaulted a staffer is shocking and reprehensible. Further, Eric Swalwell’s attempt to silence victims to save his campaign for Governor — a campaign he was unfit to enter given these allegations — is a shameful disgrace to our democracy.
“Now that victims are finally being heard, it has become abundantly clear that Eric Swalwell must withdraw from the governor’s race and immediately resign from Congress. I’m calling on him to live by the words that he has repeatedly professed, and encourage all victims to come forward to speak freely without fear of threats or legal retribution from Mr. Swalwell so that he can face accountability for his alleged actions. In California, we believe women and no one is above the law.”
Others calling for him to suspend his gubernatorial campaign and resign include East L.A. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who said he’s stepping down from his position with the Swalwell campaign and demanded that he “leave the race now/” California Sen. Adam Schiff and Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both rescinded their endorsements.
California Sen. Alex Padilla and gubernatorial candidates Tom Steyer, Tony Thurmond and Matt Mahan also called for Swalwell to withdraw from the race. The California Teachers Association has suspend its endorsement.
A spokesperson for Californians for a Fighter, an independent group supporting Swalwell, said in a statement: “In light of the serious allegations, the [group] is suspending campaign activity immediately” and the fundraising platform ActBlue has stopped accepting donations for his campaign.
Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a longtime Swalwell ally, also withdrew his endorsement, describing the allegations “indefensible.”
The fire storm erupted Friday when the San Francisco Chronicle published a story alleging that a female employee had a consensual relationship with the married congressman, including sexual encounters with Swalwell while working for him. She further claimed he sexually assaulted her on two occasions when she was drunk and unable to give her consent.
Later in the day CNN reported three more women had accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including sending unsolicited nude photos.
For his part, Swalwell, D-Dublin, noted in a video on X: “Hear it directly from me. These allegations are flat false. And I will fight them.”
He elaborated further in a statement to NBC Los Angeles.
“For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman — and have always protected women,” he said. “I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action.”
The station reported that Swalwell, 45, met with his family Friday in the San Francisco Bay Area although the outcome was unclear. He and his wife, Brittany Watts, have three children.
A CBS News report linked viral rumors about Swalwell in the days before the Chronicle story was published to influencer Cheyenne Hunter, who describes herself as a progressive activist, She has a law degree from the University of California, Irvine School of Law where gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter is a professor.
“I have been working with a number of women who are in the process of coming forward and sharing their stories of sexual harassment and even alleged abuse at the hands of Eric Swalwell,” Hunter posted April 5 on X. “I got involved because the first victim who approached me is a close friend, but when I saw that there were others who’s experiences fit the same pattern of manipulation and abuse of power, I knew I couldn’t stay silent.”
Porter told CBS News that she did not have any “direct relationship” to releasing the allegations just weeks before the June 2 primary election.
“With regard to Congressman Swalwell, I have seen allegations coming from women staffers,” she told the network. “They are very, very troubling allegations. It is those women’s stories to tell when they are ready, and I hope that they feel safe and supported if they choose to do so.”
Still, Swalwell questioned the timing of the allegations being reported.
“These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” Swalwell said in his media statement. “My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”
Meanwhile, his fellow gubernatorial candidates are continuing the push for him to step aside.
“I hope Eric Swalwell will do the right thing and get out of this race now,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said at a Beverly Hills news conference Friday.
Earlier Friday, Mahan wrote on X: “To the survivor who risked everything to come forward — I believe you. To the Democratic Party — you’d better hold him accountable. If we don’t we have no credibility asking anyone else to do the same. To (Swalwell) — drop out.”
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond also hastily called a news conference Friday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles, calling on Swalwell to withdraw from the governor’s race and resign from Congress.
In a video posted on social media after the Chronicle story was released, Thurmond pointed to earlier allegations that began circulating online about possible inappropriate contact by Swalwell with female staff members — accusations Swalwell also denied.
“These are credible women represented by legal counsel working with investigative journalists to make sure their stories are told safely and on the record,” Thurmond said.
“The number of women who have come forward is by all accounts shocking, and Congressman Swalwell’s response has been to call it a conspiracy and to attack the women who were brave enough to speak out.
“… California cannot have a governor who treats the people who work for him as something to take advantage of,” he added. “We cannot have a governor who silences victims. … Leadership requires accountability and right now, Eric Swalwell is refusing to be accountable for anything. He needs to step aside.”
California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks told reporters the accusations are “deeply disturbing.”
“First, the stories of victims and survivors should be heard and believed. Period,” Hicks said. “Second, any person engaged in misconduct must take responsibility and be held accountable for their actions – including a Member of Congress and candidate for Governor.”
Swalwell tried to get ahead of the accusations after the rumors began circulating online earlier this week.
“Some of the allegations I’ve seen, which is that we’ve had (non-disclosure agreements) in the office — never,” he said. “There’s never been an allegation and there’s never been a settlement.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, an attorney for Swalwell’s campaign sent a cease-and-desist letter on Thursday to an unknown person demanding they stop accusing Swalwell of assault.
On Friday, Politico reported that several members of Swalwell’s campaign staffers resigned just prior to the Chronicle’s story being published. One, adviser Courtni Pugh, confirmed her departure to Politico, which reported that at least four other people had also left, including both campaign chairs.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has been polling at the top of the 10-candidate gubernatorial race, along with fellow Republican, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Swalwell had been close behind, leading among the eight Democrats in the race.
Hilton said Friday that it’s “incredible that the big unions that run California picked Swalwell as their puppet, knowing full well that all this was out there. For all their endless lectures on gender equality and their `values,’ it’s obvious that Saturday’s California Democratic Party doesn’t care about them at all, except for its own power.”
Incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is termed out, has not called on Swalwell to drop his campaign, but said in a statement that “As we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously.”