A former staffer to Rep. Eric Swalwell told the San Francisco Chronicle the California Democrat and gubernatorial frontrunner sexually assaulted her twice while she was intoxicated. The staffer confirmed to NOTUS she made the allegations and received a cease-and-desist letter from Swalwell’s lawyer.
The letter, dated April 9 and sent via text message by the Los Angeles law firm Dabaie Kelley, demands the recipient “immediately and permanently” stop discussing the accusations in any form — oral, written or electronic.
Swalwell’s attorneys said in the letter that the recipient’s allegations were “fatally undermined by your voluntary and cooperative relationship with Mr. Swalwell over the course of many years following the period” she described.
In a second cease-and-desist letter obtained by NOTUS, the attorneys wrote that the timing of allegations — less than four weeks before mail-in voting begins in California’s June 2 primary — demonstrates “actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth,” potentially exposing the woman to liability for defamation per se under California law.
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In a video posted to social media on Friday, Swalwell called the allegations against him “flat false” and vowed to fight them. He admitted to making “mistakes in judgement” for which he owed an apology to his wife but denied any wrongdoing. Many of his endorsers in the race swiftly pulled their support and several of his top congressional allies called on him to drop out.
Swalwell’s attorney, Elias Dabaie, confirmed they sent cease-and-desist letters in a statement to NOTUS.
“We learned from press outlets that there are multiple allegations made against the Congressman,” he said in an email. “We believe those allegations are baseless and continue to seek the truth. We also want to understand why these allegations would suddenly arise on the eve on an election against the frontrunner in what appears to be a coordinated effort to undermine his candidacy.”
NOTUS also spoke to a former Capitol Hill intern, who requested anonymity to speak freely, who said she was approached by Swalwell while she was navigating the early stage of her career. She said that Swalwell added her on Snapchat and claimed he connected under the guise of being helpful to her career and mentoring her. She alleged that the dynamic shifted to become inappropriate and that Swalwell sent her sexual advances, including inviting her to his hotel. Messages on Snapchat are deleted immediately after being viewed in one-on-one chats or after 24 hours on the messaging platform by default.
His campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Democrat’s campaign was already facing a broader controversy in recent weeks. Cheyenne Hunt, a lawyer with a strong social media following and the executive director of the left-wing advocacy group Gen-Z for Change, has posted multiple videos in which she claims she is working with multiple women preparing to accuse Swalwell of sexual harassment.
She wrote on X: “These cease and desists are a disgusting abuse of power against brave women who are courageously working together to share their stories.”
Swalwell’s campaign told POLITICO that the allegations are false.
“This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race,” Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign, told Politico earlier this week.
A campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond to NOTUS’ request for comment.
This story has been update with Swalwell’s denial video.
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