Rep. Eric Swalwell broke his silence on allegations of sexual misconduct Tuesday evening after a campaign event in Sacramento, saying social media reports of inappropriate behavior with female staffers are “false.”
“There has never been an allegation and there has never been a settlement,” said Swalwell, one of the leading Democrats in the race for California governor.
When pressed by reporters on whether he had ever had a sexual relationship with a staffer or intern, Swalwell responded: “No, no, no, no”
The allegations against the East Bay congressman — who is married and has three children — have largely been circulated on social media by a handful of influencers who have claimed that Swalwell engaged in inappropriate conduct with younger women connected to his office or campaign.
A spokesperson for Swalwell’s campaign issued a statement earlier Tuesday using many of the same talking points the congressman himself told reporters later in the evening.
Former congresswoman Katie Porter — one of Swalwell’s top Democratic rivals in the governor’s race — called attention to the “very troubling allegations” in an interview Tuesday on CNN.
“With regard to Rep. Swalwell, I have seen allegations coming from women staffers,” Porter said. “They are very, very troubling allegations. It’s those women’s stories to tell when they are ready, and I hope they feel safe and supported if they choose to do so.”
Speaking to reporters after a town hall that drew hundreds, Swalwell said neither his congressional office nor his campaign had reached out to the individuals posting the accusations.
“I don’t want there to be any question in the minds of Californians,” Swalwell said.
The allegations come on top of separate questions about Swalwell’s residency in California.
He claims to rent a room in a small Livermore home, but he has frequently stayed at luxury hotels when returning to California over the years. Swalwell also has been crashing at the Beverly Hills mansion of billionaire Stephen Cloobeck and the timeshare mogul’s fiancée, an alleged honeytrapper set to stand trial on six felonies.
The Post interviewed neighbors who live on the same small cul-de-sac where Swalwell claims to live and none of them recognized the congressman.
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Swalwell dismissed The Post’s question on why his neighbors said they had never seen him,
“That’s not true,” he said, laughing when asked about the report. “It’s funny, they called me and told me that you did that. So they know who I am.”
Dan Schnur, a teacher of political communications at USC and UC Berkeley, told The Post that Swalwell could weather the allegations of inappropriate behavior, but the final two months before the June 2 election will be both a sprint and a marathon.
“If Swalwell’s denials hold up, it should only be a short-term distraction,” Schnur said. “But while he’s the frontrunner right now, his lead is still fairly precarious. So, if these women start speaking out in public, it could be very costly to him.”