SACRAMENTO — Embattled Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on Sunday but continued to deny accusations that he sexually assaulted a former staff member.
His campaign to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom has all but collapsed as key Democratic supporters, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Adam Schiff, abandon him.
“To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell wrote on social media Sunday.
“I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
Two reports published Friday allege that the politician forced himself on a onetime staffer, while other women described the congress member sending them photos of his penis and risque messages.
Swalwell has remained defiant and threatened to sue some of those making the accusations.
House ethics rules bar members from having sex with a subordinate, and House Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is seeking an investigation into the allegations.
More fallout could come: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) announced plans to force a House vote to expel Swalwell, a motion supported by some House Democrats, including Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico and Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington.
Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat representing Northern California, also called on Swalwell to resign.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office has opened an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Swalwell by the former staffer. A representative for the Alameda County district attorney’s office on Saturday said the office was in the process of evaluating “whether any alleged criminal conduct occurred” in the agency’s Bay Area jurisdiction.
The 45-year-old Democratic candidate established himself as a front-runner in the governor’s race, despite not having a broad base of supporters in California.
A onetime member of the House Intelligence Committee and a savvy social media user, Swalwell relished his role as a foil to President Trump, using his many platforms to attack and taunt the twice-impeached, criminally convicted president.
He previously worked as a criminal prosecutor, and was elected to Congress in 2012 after he defeated Rep. Pete Stark, a fellow Democrat.
He cast himself as a centrist middle-class guy and featured his wife and three young children prominently in his campaign for governor. In an interview with The Times last year, he talked about his decision to continue in politics despite the toll on his family.
Reports published in the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN offered a stark contrast to Swalwell’s wholesome image, alleging that he forced himself on a young staffer.
CNN also reported on another woman’s account of an alleged sexual encounter with Swalwell that involved fending off his advances over drinks, and then waking up in his hotel room with no memory of how she got there.
Swalwell and his team threatened legal action against several individuals, Swalwell’s attorney Elias Dabaie confirmed to The Times. Swalwell himself took to social media on Friday night and called the allegations “lies” intended to hurt him in the race.
Since the news reports, campaign staffers have resigned, his fundraising website went offline and even his self-described “best friend” in Congress, Sen. Ruben Gallegos of Arizona, withdrew his endorsement.
Powerful labor groups, including the California Labor Federation, SEIU California and the California Police Chiefs Assn., withdrew their support.
Other Democrats in the race include billionaire Tom Steyer, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, State Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, San José Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former state Controller Betty Yee.
The top GOP gubernatorial candidates are Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
