A former staffer for Rep. Eric Swalwell has reportedly accused the congressman of sexual assault and taking advantage of her over the course of several years — allegations the Democratic frontrunner for California governor is denying as false and politically motivated.
The woman, who worked for Swalwell for nearly two years, said the most serious incident occurred in April 2024, when she alleges he sexually assaulted her after a charity gala in New York, according to a report published Friday by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The woman, who was not named in the story, said she became heavily intoxicated while drinking with Swalwell late into the night and has only fragmented memories of what followed. She recalled being in his hotel room, pushing him away and telling him “no” as he allegedly forced himself on her.
“I woke up once during it and even told him to stop at one point,” she wrote in a text message to a friend days later, according to messages reviewed by the Chronicle.
The woman said she woke up the next morning disoriented, with vaginal bleeding and bruising, and believed she had been assaulted.
“There was no doubt in her mind … that Swalwell had forcibly had sex with her,” the Chronicle reported.
The bombshell allegations come as Swalwell’s lawyer sent a threatening letter to individuals accusing him of “nonconsensual sexual encounters” — warning that he could sue for defamation over rampant online rumors about alleged inappropriate behavior with women, according to a document posted online.
“The “It has come to our attention that you made false statements accusing Mr. Swalwell of sexual assault and nonconsensual sexual encounters,” read the letter from attorney Elias Dabaie, which was posted on X by Democratic activist Cheyenne Hunt and confirmed by the LA Times.
This is the first page of the cease and desist letter from Swalwell’s team – it has has been shared with permission from the recipient pic.twitter.com/Bv9mtVKvPf
— Cheyenne Hunt (@CheyenneHuntCA) April 10, 2026
“Mr. Swalwell takes these allegations seriously, both because they are false and because they are being injected into the gubernatorial race only 24 days before voters go to the polls,” read the letter, which Hunt said was sent to at least two individuals.
The letter raised the possibility of a defamation lawsuit, writing that the recipients, who have not been identified, are “subject to liability for defamation.”
The letter follows a tide of rumors circulated by Hunt and other Democratic activists that Swalwell sexually harassed female staffers — even allegedly forcing them to sign NDAs to muzzle them from speaking about their experiences.
The woman who accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her said she began working for his 2019 presidential campaign after graduating from college, according to the Chronicle. She was later hired into his Castro Valley district office.
Within weeks, she said, Swalwell began messaging her explicit photos and requesting nude images, which she said she provided in part out of concern about upsetting her boss.
During a car ride after a donor event in San Francisco, she said, Swalwell tried to kiss her and suggested their online exchanges had been leading to that moment. In another instance weeks later, she alleged he exposed himself in her car and asked for oral sex, which she began to perform in a parking lot before stopping out of fear of being seen.
The woman also described a September 2019 night out in Pleasanton, where she said she had been drinking before meeting Swalwell and consumed more alcohol at his urging.
She told the Chronicle she became so intoxicated that she does not remember leaving the restaurant and later woke up naked in his hotel bed. She said she could feel the effects of intercourse but did not recall consenting. She said she recalled Swalwell sucking on her toes and was “disgusted.”
Swalwell, she said, sent her to work the next morning and became distant afterward, leaving her feeling unsettled by the encounter.
Last month, Hunt began posting a series of TikTok videos warning that an investigative report about the East Bay rep’s alleged misconduct was about to drop.
Swalwell forcefully denied the allegations earlier this week, slamming the chatter as a “false, outrageous rumor” and denying he asked women to sign NDAs.
“There has never been an allegation and there has never been a settlement,” said Swalwell at a Tuesday town hall event in Sacramento.
Asked if he’d ever had a sexual relationship with a staffer or intern, Swalwell told The Post: “No, no, no, no.”
The allegations against Swalwell, a leading Dem in the governor’s race who’s racked up endorsements from powerful unions and fellow lawmakers, have sparked infighting among Democrats.
His rivals, including former Rep. Katie Porter and former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, were quick to attack Swalwell after the rumors surfaced.
“With regard to Congressman Swalwell, I have seen allegations coming from women staffers. They are very, very troubling allegations,” Porter told CNN this week.
Other Dems dismissed the rumors as part of a plot to take down a leading governor candidate, suggesting that Hunt was working on behalf of a rival campaign.
Recent polls, conducted before the investigation published, show Swalwell, Steyer and Porter leading among Dem candidates.
Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton, who nabbed President Donald Trump’s endorsement, has led most recent surveys overall, racking up close to 20% support among California voters.
The woman who has now come forward in detailing allegations against Swalwell said she was reluctant because of power he possesses as a congressman.
“I never thought anyone would believe me, because of how powerful he was,” she said. “I knew any police investigation would be made public. And I was still protecting myself and, in some ways, him.”
