California gubernatorial hopeful Rep. Eric Swalwell is seen listening to an inquiry from the audience at a city hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., April 7, 2026. Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell stated he is halting his campaign for California governor following claims from a former worker to the San Francisco Chronicle alleging he sexually assaulted her, allegations that the congressman has refuted.
This occurs amidst increasing pressure from his political party to not only withdraw from the contest, but also to step down from his position in Congress.
"I am pausing my pursuit of the Governorship. To my relatives, team, friends, and those who have supported me, I offer my sincere apologies for errors in judgment I’ve committed in the past," Swalwell expressed in a message on X Sunday evening.
California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell listens to a question from the audience during a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., April 7, 2026.Rich Pedroncelli/AP
"I intend to challenge the grave and untrue accusations that have surfaced — but that is a personal battle, not one for a campaign," he penned.
On Monday, the bipartisan House Ethics Committee communicated the launch of an inquiry into the accusations.
In a declaration, the committee said it will gather data on whether he infringed upon the House Code of Conduct or other behavioral norms "regarding claims that he may have participated in sexual impropriety, potentially towards a staff member under his supervision.”
The San Francisco Chronicle released the story of a woman, who remained unnamed, who states she was hired at the age of 21 to act as an intern in Swalwell's regional office.
She contends that Swalwell started pursuing her and sent her a nude image. In 2019, she had drinks with Swalwell and awoke the following day naked in Swalwell's hotel room and "sensed the consequence of vaginal sexual activity," as per the article.
The woman asserts that five years later, at a gathering in New York, when she was no longer working for him, Swalwell came after her while she was under the influence and forced himself on her, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Following the surfacing of these claims, at least three additional women have shared specifics of alleged improper behavior by Swalwell. ABC News has not been able to verify each of the alleged accounts, which include those publicized by The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN.
ABC News held a discussion with Ally Sammarco, who accused the legislator of sending her unsuitable messages and an unwanted naked photo of himself in 2021.
Sammarco, a creator of content for social media who stated she was 24 when she crossed paths with Swalwell, informed ABC News that she was participating in Terry McAuliffe’s campaign, as he was vying to become the governor of Virginia, and was seeking employment on Capitol Hill.
She recounts sending the congressman a private message on Twitter in August of 2021, inquiring about his background growing up in a Republican family.
She states that they discussed the Virginia race, and subsequently Swalwell provided Sammarco with his direct cell number, which she alleges he used to begin asking her “more intimate questions.”
She asserts that in September 2021, they commenced communicating on Snapchat, where she said he volunteered to assist in sending her resume and identifying a job. He proposed that she come to his office on Capitol Hill, based on text messages analyzed by ABC News.
She alleges that initially he communicated that she could meet his team, but upon her arrival, she stated he escorted her into his office, and she "didn’t encounter anyone but him.”
Sammarco revealed to ABC News that sometime in October of 2021, Swalwell apparently dispatched her an uninvited picture of his penis.
She recounted that the purported photo caused her to feel “disgusted” and that he was “advancing a sexual motive.”
In a video shared on social media late Friday night, Swalwell declared the allegations leveled against him as "categorically false. They are wholly untrue."
"They never happened. They have never transpired, and I am going to oppose them with every means at my disposal," he asserted.
Swalwell did not delve into the details of the accusations in the video statement.
Fellow Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, also representing California, referred to the accusations against Swalwell as “sickening and repulsive.”
Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., conveyed to CNN's "State of the Union," "The accusations are utterly reprehensible, and his confessions betraying his family are disgraceful. Thus, Eric Swalwell must resign. He needs to bow out of the race.”
Vindman underscored the necessity of holding leaders accountable, no matter their party or importance.
“And we have progressively become overly accustomed to witnessing our senior leaders, our elected representatives, uh, fall significantly below what we anticipate their behavior to be on moral, ethical grounds … And Representative Swalwell needs to depart,” Vindman voiced.
The three leading House Democrats, including Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have urged Swalwell to cease his gubernatorial campaign.
"Following the deeply troubling sexual assault accusations directed at Congressman Eric Swalwell, we are calling for a prompt investigation into these events and for the Congressman to immediately abandon his ambition to become California's next Governor," Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar declared in a mutual statement issued on Friday.
When pressed on Sunday about whether Swalwell ought to resign, Jeffries communicated to CNN's Jeff Zeleny, “Our current statement speaks for itself. We will reassemble in Washington early next week, and we’ll have additional comments.”
In his Friday video, Swalwell voiced that the accusations "surface on the threshold of an election where I have emerged as the leading candidate" and referenced his background as a public servant and prosecutor who advocated in court for sexual assault victims, he recounted.
"I am not suggesting to you in any manner that I am flawless or a saint," he acknowledged. "I have undoubtedly made errors in judgment in my past. However, those errors are exclusive to my wife and myself, and I deeply apologize to her for placing her in this situation."
Fellow Democrats commenced appealing for Swalwell to withdraw his gubernatorial campaign shortly after news of the accusations became public.
In a statement, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi remarked: "This extremely sensitive issue must undergo a proper investigation with complete transparency and accountability. As I conferred with Congressman Swalwell, it is apparent that such an investigation is more effectively conducted outside the context of a gubernatorial campaign."
Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., who spearheaded Swalwell's campaign for governor, proclaimed his resignation from the campaign, referring to the accusations as "the most deplorable and grave allegations conceivable."
"I cannot in good conscience remain associated in any capacity with this campaign, and I am stepping down from it immediately," Gomez stated. "The congressman should exit the contest now to ensure complete accountability without any ambiguity, disturbance, or hesitation."
Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who recently defended Swalwell against online rumors of wrongdoing, posted on Friday that he was rescinding his endorsement and stated that he "regret[s] having defended him on social media."
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., also expressed that he is retracting his endorsement "without delay" and urged Swalwell to withdraw.
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida reported Saturday that she has intentions to prompt a vote next week to expel Swalwell should he fail to resign.
"Eric has an avenue. I am going to initiate this vote next week. If Democrats wish to safeguard this kind of garbage, it is not advisable, but they will present it for consideration. I am through with this," Luna stated on Fox News.
Swalwell appended that he is prepared to pursue judicial proceedings to refute the allegations.
"I will defend myself with factual evidence and, where required, initiate legal measures. My emphasis in the upcoming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these untruths," Swalwell commented.
In the aftermath of the Chronicle's reporting, a number of Swalwell's Democratic contenders in the governor's race, including San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and former State Controller Betty Yee, have also requested that Swalwell abandon the race.
California gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Eric Swalwell appears at a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., April 7, 2026.Rich Pedroncelli/AP
The primary contenders in the race, the billionaire entrepreneur Tom Steyer and the former Congresswoman Katie Porter, conveyed encouragement for the alleged victim but stopped short of requesting Swalwell to exit the race.
Earlier this week, Swalwell's campaign apprised ABC News that Swalwell has not been the recipient of any grievances and has not requested anyone to sign confidentiality agreements.
"This deceptive, scandalous rumor is being disseminated 27 days before voting begins by stumbling opponents who have unfortunately aligned themselves with MAGA conspiracy theorists as they recognize Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this campaign," campaign spokesperson Micah Beasley stated in a declaration given to ABC News on Tuesday.
"In 13 years, no individual within Eric Swalwell’s Congressional office has ever been prompted to sign an NDA. Never," Beasley declared. "In 13 years, not a solitary ethics complaint by any staff member in his office or any other office has ever been lodged. Ever."
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is probing claims against Swalwell, according to a source familiar with the inquiry on Saturday.
"We encourage survivors and anyone aware of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division at 212-335-9373," the Manhattan DA’s office stated. "Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators, and counselors are fully equipped to assist you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner."
Swalwell’s campaign has not answered a request seeking feedback. An attorney speaking for Swalwell stated "no comment" on Saturday.
House ethics regulations prohibit intimate relationships involving representatives and interns or staff members, but the House cannot examine an occurrence that happened more than three congressional terms ago.
Editor’s note: This story was revised to clarify the allegations that have been made against Swalwell.
-ABC News' Aaron Katersky, Victoria Arancio and Oren Oppenheim provided contributions to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com