one of them claims that he raped her

One of them, a former employee under her charge, claims he raped her when she was drunk and left her bruised and bleeding, an accusation that Swalwell flatly denies.

“I was pushing him away, telling him no. But he didn’t stop,” the woman declared to the CNN about these events, which according to his story occurred in 2024 after he had stopped working in Swalwell’s office. According to her testimony, it was the second time that the politician had non-consensual sexual contact with her. while under the influence of alcohol.

The former employee – under the condition of anonymity – says that in 2019, when she worked for him as an intern being 20 years oldshe woke up naked next to him in a hotel room after a night of excess. He did not remember anything of what had happened, but his physical discomfort indicated that they had had sexual contact.

Three other women have reported to the North American network various types of inappropriate sexual conduct by the Democratic congressman, including explicit messages and naked photos of him without any preamble. They all tell a similar pattern.

Two of them were women who contacted him through social networks because of their interest in politics, two young people who were trying to make their way professionally.

One tells a story similar to that of the former worker: after a night of partying and excesses with Swalwell, she woke up in a hotel room without remembering anything of what had happened. According to his testimonyHours before, in a bar, he kissed her and touched her leg without her consent.

A third woman, a social media content creator for host Ally Sammarco, contacted the congressman on Twitter to talk about politics and he ended up sending her naked photos without being asked. “I never thought he’d respond; I had about 1,000 followers at the time,” he says.

Both tell how Swalwell gradually became interested in them. First he took a great interest in their lives and then allegedly sent them increasingly explicit messages.

They believed they were reciprocated, they point out, by a position of power. Until they were left. The encounters always ended up with some unwanted touching or sexual assault, often related to episodes of excessive alcohol consumption.

CNN claims to have evidence that corroborated key elements of the allegations of each of the women, including that of the former employee who claims to have been sexually assaulted: there are messages from the victim hours after the alleged assault in which she mentions the name of the alleged aggressor, as well as reports of medical tests she underwent.

“I always felt that if I reported, I would suffer the consequences because he was very powerful,” says the former employee who accuses Swalwell of attacking her, adding: “I have lived in fear every day.”

However, Eric Swalwell, married with three children, denies the facts: “These accusations are false and arise on the eve of an election in which the favorite for governor faces the opposition,” the Democrat declared to CNN.

“For nearly 20 years, I have served the public as a prosecutor and congressman, and I have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and, if necessary, take legal action. In the days ahead, my priority will be to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”

His lawyer also sent a letter to CNN denying that Swalwell had non-consensual sexual relations with any woman or that he had sexual relations with any member of his staff.