Swalwell Denies Allegations, Stays in California Governor Race

Rep. Eric Swalwell denies sexual assault allegations reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and says he will not drop out of the California governor race, vowing to defend himself. The Chronicle details alleged non-consensual encounters with a former staffer beginning in 2019, including explicit Snapchat messages, an attempted kiss, and a night the staffer says she cannot fully remember due to intoxication, plus a later encounter at a charity event. ABC7 notes the allegations have not been independently verified. The report sparked resignations within Swalwell’s campaign and drew pressure from rivals to drop out, with comments from Pelosi and Padilla highlighting the seriousness of the allegations.