Representative Eric Swalwell is facing severe allegations just weeks before mail-in voting begins for the California gubernatorial primary. The Democrat's campaign broke its silence to fiercely deny any sexual misconduct toward former staffers or interns. These accusations were recently circulated by Cheyenne Hunt, a former Capitol Hill staffer and political media personality.
Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell, dismissed the claims in a statement to the New York Post. "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," Beasley stated.
Hunt currently runs a left-leaning youth political engagement group called Gen-Z for Change. She began highlighting accusations last week that Swalwell had a practice of making sexual advances toward women on his staff. "The Democratic candidate currently leading in the California governor’s race has a known history of being predatory towards women," Hunt claimed online.
Hunt shared a screenshot of a private message detailing the alleged behavior. "You know, Eric Swalwell has slept with many of his interns and makes them all sign [non-disclosure agreements] so they don’t speak up, right?" the quote read. The message also alleged that Swalwell tried hitting on the sender when she was nineteen years old.
Hunt noted that she has been contacted by several other women sharing similar experiences since posting her original video. "I am personally working with a group of women who want to come forward and share their stories," Hunt explained. She added, "I am also aware of a much larger group that is also in this process that I am not personally working with."
While Hunt has not provided names, multiple Democratic operatives are urging the party to take the claims seriously. Democratic strategist Bhavik Lathia confirmed the allegations online. "Hey, I just got off the phone with a trusted friend. This is real. Take it seriously. Eric Swallwell cannot be our nominee," Lathia wrote.
Beasley challenged Hunt’s assertions by pointing to a lack of prior controversy surrounding Swalwell's office conduct. "In 13 years, no one in Eric Swalwell’s Congressional office has ever been asked to sign an NDA. Ever," Beasley told the Post. He added that not a single ethics complaint has ever been lodged by any staff in his office.
Hunt quickly struck back at the Swalwell campaign's attempt to dismiss the allegations as a right-wing conspiracy. "Smearing survivors with claims that they ‘teamed up with MAGA’ is morally repugnant," Hunt argued online. She noted that these women are brave and deserve to be heard.
"We are working with legal counsel and the investigative team of a highly reputable outlet to ensure that those stories are told the right way," Hunt added. The controversy comes at a critical time for the Swalwell campaign. Mail-in voting for the primary begins on May 4 ahead of the June 2 election.