Rep. Eric Swalwell drops out of California governor race following sexual assault allegations

Rep. Eric Swalwell announced he suspended his campaign for California Governor on Sunday, after sexual assault allegations against him.

On his X account, Swalwell said he will be “suspending my campaign for Governor”. He continues to say “To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.”

The announcement comes after the San Francisco Chronicle first reported Swalwell’s former aide said she had sexual encounters with him when he was her boss and alleged that he twice sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent.

The woman worked for Swalwell from 2019 until 2021, NBC News confirmed. The woman’s lawyer declined to comment and NBC News has not verified her allegations, as reported by the Chronicle.

Swalwell denied these allegations, saying they were “false”.

Since then, many other leaders also called on Swalwell to drop out of the race.