Former Staffer Claims Rep. Swalwell Assaulted Her, Current Staffers Resign (Update)

Earlier this week there were claims circulating on X that at least two groups of women were talking to journalists about their experiences of sexual harassment by Rep. Eric Swalwell.

The source of these claims, Cheyenne Hunt, is a progressive political insider who claimed she was friends with one of the women and wanted to spread the word so that more women would come forward to share their experiences. She claimed that was indeed happening behind the scenes.

What was lacking was confirmation in the form of a published story by a major news outlet. As recently as Wednesday, Hunt was telling people those stories were coming but needed to be vetted first to ensure they would be air-tight.

Today, the San Francisco Chronicle published the first such story. It’s headlined, “Former staffer says Rep. Eric Swalwell, candidate for California governor, sexually assaulted her.”

A woman who worked for nearly two years for Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, said she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss and alleged he twice sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent…

The woman said Swalwell began pursuing her within weeks after she was hired at age 21 to work in the Democrat’s district office in Castro Valley in 2019. Swalwell messaged her on Snapchat, she said, sending images of his genitals and seeking nude pictures of her in return.

She said Swalwell, who is married and 17 years her senior, tried to kiss her in her car when she drove him home from a donor meeting one night. Driving him to another event weeks later, she said Swalwell pulled out his penis in the car and asked her to perform oral sex on him. She said she did so in a parking lot.

In September 2019, the woman said, Swalwell invited her out for drinks and she became so severely intoxicated that she does not remember the rest of the night. She said she woke up naked in Swalwell’s hotel bed and could feel the effect of vaginal intercourse.

Five years later, when she was no longer working for Swalwell, there was a very similar incident. She claims she got “blackout” drunk but remembers telling Swalwell no and pushing him away. She claims she awoke briefly and he was having sex with her. 

A few days later, she told her boyfriend and a female friend what had happened and about the previous incident in 2019. She never went to the police but she did go for an STD and pregnancy test afterwards and medical records confirm that. She told her story to the woman who performed the medical tests and the notes by that nurse referred to the woman as a “survivor.”

She also claims that Swalwell sent her a message on Snapchat saying something like ‘you said you didn’t remember anything last time i hope you do now.’ She took this as Swalwell trying to gaslight her into believing the sex had been consensual.

The Chronicle shared a summary of the woman’s allegations with Swalwell’s campaign prior to the publication of the story. Late last night the campaign sent the woman a cease and desist letter. The first page of that letter was posted today by Cheyenne Hunt who said she had been given permission to share it.

This is the first page of the cease and desist letter from Swalwell’s team – it has has been shared with permission from the recipient pic.twitter.com/Bv9mtVKvPf

— Cheyenne Hunt (@CheyenneHuntCA) April 10, 2026

The Chronicle reports that in addition to threatening the woman with a lawsuit for defamation, the letter said, “the credibility of your accusations is fatally undermined by your voluntary and cooperative relationship with Mr. Swalwell over the course of many years following the period in question.”

The woman in question still works on Capitol Hill and says she tried to maintain friendly relations with Swalwell in public even as she discussed her concerns about him with people in private. The woman’s own attorney responded to the legal letter saying her allegations were “100% accurate” and that she would not be withdrawing any of her claims.

Swalwell was scheduled to host a campaign event in Palm Desert yesterday but canceled it claiming illness.

A town hall hosted by Congressional representative and gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell, scheduled for Thursday in Palm Desert, was canceled.

News Channel 3 was given late notice that the event was canceled due to illness.

Politico is reporting that there have been several resignations from Swalwell’s current campaign staff.

Multiple people have abruptly resigned from Rep. Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign, throwing the durability of his operation into question after the California Democrat repeatedly this week denied allegations of sexual misconduct.

Members of senior leadership have departed the campaign, including Courtni Pugh, a strategic adviser who served as Swalwell’s top liaison to organized labor groups.

Pugh confirmed her resignation, but declined to comment further. Two other people, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal campaign dynamics, confirmed there have been at least four departures.

Cheyenne Hunt says the SF Chronicle story is just the beginning.

Told you. And this is just the beginning. pic.twitter.com/e0ydJ1OD59

— Cheyenne Hunt (@CheyenneHuntCA) April 10, 2026

This doesn’t seem survivable. But then I didn’t think a Nazi tattoo and calling voters racist would be survivable and Graham Platner is still around.

Update: Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, who was defending Swalwell online just a day or two ago, is now retracting his endorsement.

I’ve read the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting and I take it seriously.

What is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed.

I regret having come to his defense on social media prior…

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) April 10, 2026

Tom Steyer, a rival in the governor’s race, says the allegations should be taken seriously.

I commend the brave former staffer who came forward with her story about Eric Swalwell. Speaking out is never easy, and her account must be taken seriously. At a moment like this, we must make sure that women are heard, and justice is pursued.

— Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) April 10, 2026

Editor’s Note: Do you enjoy Hot Air’s conservative reporting that takes on the radical left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth.

Join Hot Air VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.