California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell (D) took to the offensive on Friday night, firmly denying serious allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from several women, including a former congressional staffer who claims he assaulted her twice while she was intoxicated.
Swalwell asserted that these accusations from survivors are false. However, in an awkward video statement, he also admitted to having made “mistakes” of a personal nature, suggesting that those issues could only be resolved privately with his wife.
“A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations, and I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly,” Swalwell said.
“These allegations of sexual assault are flat false,” the Democrat Rep. (CA-14) insisted. “They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have.”
Swalwell’s video was immediately slapped with a “Community Note” that made clear some of his accusers have remained anonymous while “others have come forward publicly.”
The gubernatorial candidate acknowledged his “mistakes in judgment” and offered a heartfelt apology to his wife for placing her in this difficult situation — a statement that raises more questions than it answers.
“I do not suggest to you in any way that I’m perfect or that I’m a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past,” he said. “But those mistakes are between me and my wife, and to her I apologize deeply for putting her in this position.”
In addition to the community note, several X users reminded Swalwell of his past statements about believing survivors of sexual assault.
“She has nothing to gain and everything to lose. It’s time we #BelieveSurvivors instead of attack them,” Swalwell famously said in 2018 in regard to allegations at the time against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Yikes, did that come back to bite. Hard.
“No one believes you. Live by the sword, die by the sword, they say,” radio host Dana Loesch responded.
“What about believing the women?” added Townhall columnist Kurt Schlichter.
“Swalwell apologizes to his wife and also says the allegations are ‘flat false’ which raise (sic) the question of why he’s apologizing to his wife,” reporter Ryan Grim pointed out.
Multiple women, including a congressional staffer and at least three others, have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct and assault against Swalwell. These claims include unwanted sexual advances and unsolicited explicit messages, some of which reportedly included nude photos.
Two of the alleged assaults involved the former staffer, who was intoxicated and unable to give consent at the time. If the accuser’s account is accurate, these actions would meet the legal definition of rape.
Several national Democratic leaders have called on Swalwell to end his campaign for governor in California, but none have yet found the courage to demand his resignation from Congress.
That said, the Manhattan district attorney’s office is looking into the allegations. “We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373,” the DA’s office said in a statement to CNN. “Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner.”
Sounds like Swalwell’s, um, done with his political career.