CA Governor Primary Just Got Worse

 

California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell is facing an existential political crisis after several women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct. Swalwell, who was the leading Dem candidate in a crowded field, is denying the allegations, but endorsers are withdrawing support and staff is abandoning his campaign. From CNN:

"A former staffer of Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading Democratic candidate for California governor, says that the congressman raped her when she was heavily intoxicated and left her bruised and bleeding, an allegation Swalwell strongly denies.

'I was pushing him off of me, saying no,' the woman told CNN of the incident, which she said happened in 2024 after she had stopped working in Swalwell’s office. 'He didn’t stop.'

She said it was the second time Swalwell had nonconsensual sexual contact with her while she was drunk. In 2019, when she was still working for him, she said she woke up naked with him in a hotel room after a night of heavy drinking. She said she had no memory of what happened but could feel physically that they’d had sexual contact.

Three other women who spoke with CNN also alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by the Democratic congressman – including Swalwell sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos."

Swalwell has been a leading and effective critic of the deranged and unfit Malignant Fascist, and was one of the leaders in the effort to impeach the MF in his first term. He's also been a vocal supporter of of victims of sexual assault, which make these claims particularly troubling. CNN's coverage continues:

"CNN found corroboration for key elements of each of the women’s claims, including the former staffer who said she was sexually assaulted. Two family members and a friend said in interviews with CNN that she told them about the alleged 2024 assault in the following days, and CNN also reviewed text messages she sent two friends describing her allegations at the same time. “I was sexually assaulted on Thursday,” she wrote to one of her friends, adding: “By Eric.”

The woman also shared medical records related to her receiving STD and pregnancy testing after the alleged assault."

There are more disturbing details of abuse attributed to Swalwell, often involving heavy drinking. 

There has been pressure by the California Democratic Party for their candidates to self-assess their chances of winning the primary, with the hope that some will voluntarily withdraw before the June primary. Swalwell wasn't thought to be one who needed to, but these credible allegations have upended his candidacy and likely his career.