Swalwell resigns from Congress oan

The Allegations

Sexual Assault

A former congressional staffer alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her two separate times, while she was openly too intoxicated to consent, and solicited oral sex while she was working for him.

The allegations against Swalwell primarily center on detailed accounts from a former congressional staffer who worked in his district office. According to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN, the woman alleged that the congressman sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions — once in California in 2019 while she was employed by him, and again in New York in 2024.

She described being in a state of intoxication that rendered her unable to consent during both incidents, including one instance where she reportedly woke up in his hotel room after a night of drinks. Additionally, the staffer claims that Swalwell solicited oral sex from her while she was a subordinate in his office, creating what other Democrat lawmakers have since described as a severe abuse of power and a violation of House ethics rules.

In addition to these specific accounts of assault, the staffer’s claims are part of a broader set of misconduct allegations involving three other women. These additional reports include accusations that Swalwell engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior by sending unsolicited nude photographs and sexually explicit messages via Snapchat to younger women in political circles.

While Swalwell has admitted to “mistakes in judgment” and issued public apologies to his family and wife, he has consistently and forcefully denied the criminal allegations of sexual assault, calling them “flat false.” The severity of the staffer’s claims has led to a formal investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office regarding the 2024 New York incident and a bipartisan inquiry by the House Ethics Committee.

Criminal Investigation

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office officially confirmed the opening of its investigation on Saturday, focusing on a specific allegation of sexual assault that took place in New York City in April 2024. The investigation was prompted by detailed testimony from a former staffer who told CNN that Swalwell raped her in his hotel room while she was physically helpless due to intoxication.

This specific incident is distinct from her other allegations of assault that occurred in California in 2019, but it falls under New York’s jurisdiction, where state law stipulates that a person cannot legally consent to sexual activity if they are “mentally incapacitated” or “physically helpless” because of alcohol or drugs.

In a public statement, the District Attorney’s office urged any other survivors or individuals with knowledge of these allegations to contact their Special Victims Division, emphasizing that their prosecutors and investigators are trained to handle such cases in a survivor-centered manner.

While Swalwell has vehemently denied the criminal nature of the claims, describing them as “flat false” and “politically timed,” the Manhattan probe exemplifies the most serious legal threat he faces. The announcement of this criminal investigation, alongside the House Ethics Committee’s own inquiry, played a pivotal role in the swift erosion of his political support, ultimately leading to his resignation from Congress on Monday.