SACRAMENTO – Eric Swalwell, member of the embattled Rep. He suspended his campaign for governor of California on Sunday but continued to deny allegations that he sexually assaulted a former employee.
His campaign to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom failed as key Democratic supporters, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Adam Schiff, who left him.
“To my family, staff, friends and supporters, I am deeply sorry for the mistakes I have made in the past,” Swalwell wrote on Sunday on social media.
“I will fight the serious, false allegations made – but that’s my fight, not the campaign’s.”
Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign had been on the upswing until the scandal broke, with recent polls showing him ahead in a crowded Democratic field. His sudden departure threw the race into chaos less than two months before the June 2 primary.
Two reports published on Friday allege that Swalwell forced himself on a former staff member, while other women described the congressman sending them pictures of his private parts and threatening text messages.
Swalwell continues to be defiant and threatened to sue some of those making these allegations.
House ethics rules prohibit members from having sex with a subordinate, and the leader of the House Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York wants an investigation into these allegations.
More fallout could be coming: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) has announced plans to force a House vote to impeach Swalwell, a move supported by some House Democrats, including Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico and Pramila Jayapal of Washington.
Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat who represents Northern California, also called on Swalwell to resign.
NBC News reported Sunday that there was “bipartisan steam” growing to remove Swalwell, and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), who has admitted to having an affair with a co-worker who later killed herself. The eviction could happen as soon as this week.
At the same time, the Manhattan district attorney’s office opened an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Swalwell by a former employee. A representative of the Alameda County district attorney’s office on Saturday said it was in the process of investigating “whether there are any suspected crimes” at the agency’s Bay Area location.
The 45-year-old Democratic candidate emerged as the frontrunner in the gubernatorial race despite not having many supporters in California.
A former member of the House Intelligence Committee and a seasoned social media user, Swalwell has reveled in his role in hounding President Trump, using his many platforms to attack and mock the twice-convicted, felony president.
He previously worked as a criminal prosecutor and was elected to Congress in 2012 after defeating Rep. Pete Stark, also a Democrat.
He pretended to be a middle-class man and featured his wife and three very young children in his campaign for governor. In an interview he had with The Times last year, he spoke about his decision to continue in politics even though his family suffered.
Reports by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN offered a stark contrast to Swalwell’s positive image, alleging that he forced himself on new employees.
CNN also reported on another woman’s account of an alleged affair with Swalwell that involved avoiding soliciting drinks, then waking up in his hotel room with no memory of how she got there.
Swalwell and his team have threatened legal action against several people, lawyer Elias Dabaie confirmed to The Times.
Swalwell took to social media on Friday night to call the allegations “false” and intended to harm him in the race.
His close friend, real estate developer Stephen Cloobeck, told The Times on Sunday that Swalwell spent part of the weekend with him at his home in Beverly Hills.
“I had a serious conversation with him, and I told him how disappointed I was,” Cloobeck said, adding that the attorney apologized.
Since the news broke, campaign staff have resigned, his fundraising website is offline and even his “best friend” in Congress, Seni. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, withdrew his endorsement.
Powerful labor groups, including the California Labor Federation, the Service Employees International Union California and the California Police Chiefs Assn., withdrew their support.
That union support, along with support from Schiff and other prominent California Democrats, helped propel Swalwell’s campaign forward in a race with no clear front-runner. The state’s biggest leadership race is still up for grabs, as seven prominent Democrats and two Republicans vie for a first- or second-place finish and advance to the November election.
Swalwell was among the leading Democrats with the support of 13% of likely voters in a recent UC Berkeley poll sponsored by the Los Angeles Times. She is tied for first place among Democrats with former Orange County attorney Katie Porter, with billionaire Tom Steyer not far behind.
Other Democrats in the race include state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, San José Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former state Comptroller Betty Yee.
GOP presidential candidates are Steve Hilton, former Fox News commentator, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
