Emerging favorite in Governor’s race facing sexual assault allegations

SACRAMENTO - Rep. Eric Swalwell faced mounting calls to quit the governor’s race Friday, including from Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published reports that he sexually assaulted one woman and sent unsolicited nude photos and made unwanted advances on three others.

Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing and his attorney threatened legal action against at least two of the women. Both stories feature claims from a former staffer who says Swalwell, D-Dublin, sexually assaulted her twice while she was too intoxicated to consent, charges Swalwell denied.

TOP VIDEOS CNN also reported on a second woman who says she connected with Swalwell online, got drinks with him, and ended up in his hotel room with little memory of what transpired. She also told CNN that Swalwell touched her leg and kissed her at the bar without her consent. A third woman, social media influencer Ally Sammarco, told CNN said she received unsolicited nude messages from Swalwell in 2021, and a fourth woman made similar allegations to the network.

Pelosi, Jeffries, Sen. Alex Padilla and Sen. Adam Schiff, who gave Swalwell what was arguably his highest-profile endorsement, called on the Democrat to quit the race.

Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, stepped down as Swalwell’s campaign chair and urged him to drop out. Several powerful unions, including SEIU-California and the California Labor Federation, said they were suspending their endorsements of Swalwell’s campaign pending meetings with top leaders.