California Representative Eric Swalwell, the front-runner in the race for governor, is facing allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct by four women, including a former aide who claims he raped her.The allegations include a high-profile Democrat using his political stature to groom young women in their 20s before sending inappropriate sexual messages or engaging in non-consensual physical contact, CNN reports. Swalwell is a married father of three and issued a denial. He called the claims “false” and politically motivated lies meant to disrupt the upcoming election.His legal team has already issued cease and desist letters to the two accused and warned them of legal action if they continue speaking out. However, medical records, text messages, and corroborating statements from friends and family members have emerged to support the women’s accounts.
Former employee: allegations of rape and physical injury
The most serious allegation comes from a woman who began interning for Swalwell in 2019 when she was 20. She eventually joined his campaign and district office, where she says the congressman initially made her feel “like the coolest person in the room.”She alleges that after a night of heavy drinking in September 2019, she blacked out and woke up naked in Swalwell’s hotel room. She said she could “physically feel” that sexual contact had occurred. In a separate incident the same year, she claimed he pressured her to perform oral sex on him in the car.The woman alleges the abuse culminated at a New York City event in April 2024. She says she regained consciousness in Swalwell’s bed after becoming extremely intoxicated after drinking at the hotel bar.“I was pushing him away by saying no,” she told CNN. “He didn’t stop.”She described waking up alone the next morning, wrapped in blankets, with “cuts and bruises” on her ribs and thighs. CNN reviewed medical records from the health clinic where she went to get tested a few days later, where a provider referred to her as “a survivor.”
Political aspirant: A ‘blurry’ in the hotel room
A second woman, who connected with the congressman over her interest in Democratic politics in 2025, described turning a similarly “starstruck” compliment into a traumatic experience. After messaging for several weeks, the pair met in person when Swalwell was visiting her hometown.She alleges that during one night at a bar, Swalwell repeatedly touched and kissed her feet without consent. Eventually she lost her memory of the evening and woke up in her hotel room. Uber receipts show she left the hotel at 5:41 am.The woman described her experience as “blurring” and said she felt “disgusted and embarrassed”. When she later messaged Swalwell telling him “What you did hurt me,” he replied: “I won’t bother you again! Sorry.”
Eli Samarco: Unwanted Nudity and Late Night Running
Social media creator Ellie Sammarco is one of the women who chose her name. She first reached out to Swalwell on Twitter in 2021 to discuss politics. What started as professional advice soon turned into an “inappropriate” Snapchat exchange.Samarco claims the congressman sent her unsolicited photos of his genitals and shirtless selfies while he was drinking. She said that when she was 24 and out with friends, it was a sitting congressman who was “drunk texting” her.She also alleged that Swalwell would drive past her apartment building several times after learning where she lived. Although they remained in occasional contact, she said that he stopped responding to her sexual advances after they entered a serious relationship.
Marketing Professionals: The Four-Year Pattern of Clear Content
A fourth woman, who worked in marketing, alleged that Swalwell began contacting her in 2021 after liking her social media posts. She told CNN that after a month their conversations turned sexual, with the congressman requesting her to send nude photos and unsolicited videos of his penis.“When you’re sent unsolicited d**k videos, it makes you feel like I’m less of a human being,” he said.The two never met in person, but the digital relationship lasted for four years.