Video released Friday shows eric swalwell directly addressing anonymous accusations that a former staffer sexually assaulted her while intoxicated, which were reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
In the video, he called the allegations "flat out false" and "absolutely false," and said, "I will fight them with everything that I have."
Swalwell acknowledged he is not "perfect" and described past "mistakes in judgment" as private matters between him and his wife, adding an apology for "putting [his wife] in this position."
He also apologized to supporters for any doubt the allegations may cause, and said, "I think you know who I am," while noting over 20 years of public service as a city councilman, member of Congress, and as a prosecutor who went to court on behalf of victims.
Reactions And Campaign Status
The Chronicle report named an unnamed former female staffer who said she worked for Swalwell for about two years and was pursued shortly after she was hired as a 21-year-old in his district office, despite him being married.
The woman alleged multiple incidents, including pressure to send naked pictures, that he sent sexually explicit photos to her, and that he exposed himself while driving and asked for oral sex.
She also said she blacked out on multiple occasions and later woke up naked in Swalwell's hotel bed with signs of intercourse, and that the two reunited after she no longer worked for him when another incident allegedly occurred.
The allegations prompted a handful of Swalwell's top Democratic supporters to withdraw their endorsements of his gubernatorial campaign, with some supporters encouraging him to drop out of the race.
Despite the reporting and the loss of some endorsements, the article states Swalwell remained a candidate in California's gubernatorial race as of Saturday morning, and Fox News Digital noted Alec Shemmel contributed to the report.
