(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Top Democratic officials on Friday rushed to rebuke Eric Swalwell, the long-time left-wing darling and top candidate for California governor, after accusations of sexual misconduct and even sexual assault became too serious to ignore.
Calls for him to step down from the race, along with endorsement withdrawals, came from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to the California Teachers Association, effectively killing his campaign weeks before the California primary for governor.
The scandal came after the San Francisco Chronicle published the disturbing account of a former female staffer who said Swalwell twice sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent.
CNN followed up with quotes from four women, including the staffer behind the sexual assault allegations, who described their own experiences with Swalwell.
“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” the woman told the outlet of a 2024 encounter. “He didn’t stop.”
In 2019, she said she once woke up naked with Swalwell in his hotel room after a night of heavy drinking. She was unable to recall what happened the night before but said she felt she had been penetrated.
A second woman said she woke up in Swalwell’s hotel room with no memories of the night before, except that he kissed her and touched her leg without consent. A third woman, Ally Sammarco, said Swalwell sent her an unsolicited nude message.
Swalwell has denied the allegations, threatening the alleged victims with cease-and-desist letters on Thursday.
Rumors about Swalwell’s alleged conduct went viral on social media when leftist activist Cheyenne Hunt shared a text message from an individual alleging that Swalwell “has slept with many of his interns.”
The individual behind the purported messages said she was 19 when Swalwell “tried hitting on me and sliding into my DMS.”
Swalwell had received some political cover, particularly from CBS News correspondent Julie Watts, who on Wednesday published a report drawing attention to activist Cheyenne Hunt’s ties to gubernatorial rival Katie Porter while repeatedly emphasizing the absence of a direct relationship.
Reached by phone on Friday evening by Headline USA, Watts appeared at a loss for words, asking for an email and saying she would look into the matter.
Headline USA also asked Watts via text messages about the sourcing and framing of her report and whether CBS News stood by it, with no response thus far.
