The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Saturday it is investigating an allegation of sexual assault against Eric Swalwell, a day after CNN reported that a former staffer accused him of having sex with her when she was unable to consent.
“We urge survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division,” the office said in a statement to CNN. Officials said prosecutors, investigators and counselors are prepared to handle cases in a trauma-informed manner, CNN reported.
The former staffer told CNN that she was heavily intoxicated after a night of drinking with Swalwell in New York City in April 2024. She said she later woke up in his hotel room while he was having sex with her.
“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” she said. “He didn’t stop,” she added. The woman said the incident occurred after she had stopped working in Swalwell’s office. She was one of four women who described allegations of misconduct involving the congressman.
Other women told CNN that Swalwell sent unsolicited nude photos or explicit messages. Some said the communications took place over social media platforms and messaging apps.
Swalwell denied the allegations in a statement and in a video posted to social media. “These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the front-runner for governor,” he said.
https://x.com/RepSwalwell/status/2042800069334962405
“For nearly 20 years, I have served the public — as a prosecutor and a congressman — and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action,” he said.
CNN reported it has reached out to Swalwell’s attorney for additional comment.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said on Saturday it is investigating an allegation of sexual assault against Rep. Eric Swalwell, a day after CNN reported that a former staffer for the congressman accused him of having sex with her when she was unable to consent.… pic.twitter.com/knyHXk37Vx
— CNN (@CNN) April 11, 2026
The allegations have disrupted Swalwell’s campaign for governor of California. He previously served as a federal prosecutor and was a candidate in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
Following the report, several Democratic figures in California and nationally called on Swalwell to reconsider his campaign or withdraw from the race. He has not publicly announced any changes to his campaign.
The investigation by the Manhattan DA has just begun. No charges have been announced. Three other women also accused Swalwell of misconduct, including claims that he sent unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos. Two women said the exchanges occurred over Snapchat, where messages are automatically deleted.
Another video that was posted online Saturday appears to show Swalwell getting intimate with a woman described as a “sex worker,” though that has not been confirmed and the context of the video has not been established.
https://twitter.com/martinshkreli/status/2043011574504235484
One woman said she met Swalwell after connecting online about politics and later became extremely intoxicated during a night out with him. She said she ended up in his hotel room with little memory of how she got there.
“He was sitting against me, and every time that I would move away from him, he would get closer,” she said. She added that she felt “really fuzzy” as the night went on.
Another woman, social media creator Ally Sammarco, said Swalwell initially responded to her outreach about politics before the conversations turned personal. She said he later sent inappropriate content, including explicit images, during late-night exchanges.
Several women described a similar pattern, saying Swalwell showed strong personal interest in younger women before interactions became increasingly sexual. Some said they engaged with him in part because of his position of power and influence.
CNN reported it reviewed messages, photos and other materials tied to the claims. Family members and friends of multiple accusers said the women told them about the incidents around the time they allegedly occurred.
In one case, the former staffer shared text messages sent to friends in the days after the alleged 2024 incident. In those messages, she wrote that she had been sexually assaulted and identified Swalwell by name.
