Chaos engulfs Eric Swalwell's campaign as sex assault allegations emerge: report

The gubernatorial campaign of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is seeing a wave of resignations, in anticipation of a potentially ruinous story alleging sexual misconduct by the longtime congressman.

According to Politico, "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."

The resignations, per the report, happened "just before the San Francisco Chronicle published a report Friday afternoon reporting that a former staffer claims Swalwell had sexual encounters with her while working for him, and that he sexually assaulted her twice when she was too drunk to consent."

Rumors of this allegation have been floating on the internet for days. Swalwell has categorically denied the allegations.

Furthermore, according to Cheyenne Hunt, the executive director of Gen-Z for Change, Swalwell's legal team sent cease-and-desist letters to people overnight, threatening defamation litigation over the allegations. She obtained a copy of one letter and posted it on X "with permission from the recipient."

Swalwell is part of a crowded field of candidates to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom. Most polls have shown he is one of the top-performing Democratic candidates, running more or less neck and neck with former Rep. Katie Porter and businessman and philanthropist Tom Steyer, with several other Democrats trailing behind them.

Republican political commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco have also led the field, raising worries they could lock out Democrats in the general election if they are the top two vote getters in the "jungle primary."