Rep. Eric Swalwell denied the accusations against him in a video statement released late on Friday, making it clear that he had no intention of dropping out of the California governor’s race despite mounting claims that he’d engaged in inappropriate behavior with several former staffers.
Swalwell posted the video on both X and Instagram, along with the caption, “Hear it directly from me. These allegations are flat false. And I will fight them.”
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Hear it directly from me. These allegations are flat false. And I will fight them. pic.twitter.com/bQSlCquD1U
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) April 11, 2026
“A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations,” Swalwell said. “And I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly.”
“These allegations of sexual assault are flat false, they’re absolutely false,” he added. “They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have. They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor in California.”
“I do not suggest to you in any way that I am perfect or that I’m a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past,” Swalwell continued. “But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position. I also apologize to you if in any way you have doubted your support for me. But I think you know who I am.”
Swalwell went on to tout his 20-year record of serving the public from the City Council to the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as his record as a prosecutor defending victims of sexual assault.
“That’s who I am and have always been. This weekend, I’m going to spend time with my family and friends, and I appreciate those who have reached out to me to show support,” he concluded. “I look forward to updating you very soon.”
Swalwell’s response comes in the wake of several accusations — including one from a former staffer who said he raped her — of inappropriate sexually-charged behavior and sexual assault.
But the California congressman, who alleges that the timing and anonymity of the accusations make them suspect, sang a very different tune when similar 11th-hour accusations were leveled against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh ahead of his confirmation hearings.
On September 18, 2018, Swalwell joined with a number of House Democrats in calling for a postponement of the Senate’s confirmation vote, demanding an investigation and including the #MeToo era “believe women” tagline: “I joined 109 of my House colleagues in urging the Senate to #PostponeTheVote on #Kavanaugh, so America can have a thorough investigation of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s story. #BelieveWomen.”
Swalwell also criticized Republicans who pointed out the fact that Democrats — namely the late Senator Dianne Feinstein — had reportedly been aware of the accusations against Kavanaugh for some time and had intentionally withheld them until they could be used to derail his confirmation.
“The #Kavanaugh defenders are trying to stand on the process/timing of the allegation and wish to ignore its substance. Would they prefer that she never had come forward? Is that what they’re really suggesting?” he posted on September 17, 2018.
“A lot of GOP senators are unfairly holding #Kavanaugh victims to criminal law standards for their accounts. If that’s the case they should know this jury instruction: ‘The testimony of a SINGLE witness can prove any fact,’” Swalwell posted a week later.
Even as Swalwell denies the claims against him, his colleagues have already begun to jump ship. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) was among those who withdrew endorsements ahead of the primary election.
“I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations. This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race,” Schiff said.
