CongressmanJimmy Gomez, a Los Angeles Democrat who was the chair ofEric Swalwell’s campaign for the governship of California, resigned from that role on Friday and called on Swalwell to drop out.
“Today I learned shocking information about Eric Swalwell containing the ugliest and most serious accusations imaginable,” Gomez said in a statement responding to the San Francisco Chronicle report that a former staffer had accused Swalwell of sexual assault.
“My involvement in any campaign begins and ends with trust. I cannot in good conscience remain in any role with this campaign, and I am stepping down from it effective immediately,” Gomez wrote. “The congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay.”
Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democratic former mayor of Los Angeles who has failed to gain traction in the race for the governor’s office, went further inhis statement, calling for Swalwell to also resign from Congress.
“Today’s reporting on the horrific allegations that Eric Swalwell abused his position and repeatedly sexually assaulted a staffer is shocking and reprehensible,” Villaraigosa said. “Further, Eric Swalwell’s attempt to silence victims to save his campaign for Governor – a campaign he was unfit to enter given these allegations – is a shameful disgrace to our democracy.”
“Now that victims are finally being heard, it has become abundantly clear that Eric Swalwell must withdraw from the governor’s race and immediately resign from Congress,” the former mayor added. “In California, we believe women and no one is above the law.”
This concludes our coverage ofUS politicsfor the day, thanks for reading. Here are the latest developments:
CongressmanEric Swalwell’s campaign to succeedGavin Newsomas California’s governor imploded after he was accused of sexual assault by a woman who worked for the congressman in interviews withthe San Francisco ChronicleandCNN.
In response to the reports, and three more women alleging sexual misconduct by Swalwell, multiple staffers resigned from Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign, and leading California Democrats called on him to drop out of the race.
Among those calling for Swalwell to end his campaign for California governor were the state’s lieutenant governorEleni Kounalakis,the former Democratic House speakerNancy Pelosi, both of California’s Democratic senators,Adam SchiffandAlex Padilla,the House Democratic leader,Hakeem Jeffries,the other leading Democrats in the race,Katie PorterandTom Steyerand former backers including Arizona senatorRuben Gallegoand the powerful California Teachers Association.
Cheyenne Hunt, a Democratic party activist and influencer with more than 200,000 followerson Instagram, who used her platform to spread accusations of sexual misconduct by Swalwell,calledthe Chronicle report just “the first of many”.
Katie Porter, the former congresswoman fighting to make it into the top two in the June nonpartisan primary for California governor, released a statement calling onEric Swalwell, a fellow Democrat, to drop out of the race and resign his seat in Congress over allegations by four women that he sexually assaulted or abused them.
“In light of the allegations of sexual assault, Eric Swalwell should resign from Congress and end his campaign for public office,”Porter wroteon social media Friday evening. “But those decisions do not absolve him of taking responsibility for his misconduct, especially when he has attempted to silence and retaliate against these victims.”
“These allegations merit full investigations, and these women deserve the right to pursue justice. Too often, men escape any consequence for sexual misconduct by stepping out of power,” Porter continued. “That is a first and necessary step towards justice because it limits the ability for further harm. I stand with these women as they seek justice.”
Gavin Newsom, the California governor who is widely expected to run for president in 2028, did not immediately join fellow senior Democrats in the state in calling for Eric Swalwell, a congressman, to drop out of the race to replace him, in the wake of accusations of sexual assault or misconduct from four women on Friday.
