1 month ago
The Manhattan territory attorney’s agency said connected Saturday that it is investigating a intersexual battle allegation against Eric Swalwell, a Democratic congressman from California moving to beryllium nan state’s governor, who connected Friday denied claims by an unnamed female that he sexually assaulted her twice.
Confirmation of an investigation came aft nan San Francisco Chronicle reported connected Friday that a female who antecedently worked successful Swalwell’s territory agency accused him of 2 nonconsensual intersexual encounters.
She was quoted successful nan newspaper’s study arsenic saying she had been excessively intoxicated connected some occasions – successful California successful 2019, erstwhile she worked for Swalwell, and past successful New York successful 2024 – to consent to sex.
New York rule holds that a personification cannot consent to intersexual activity if they are “mentally incapacitated” aliases “physically helpless” owed to narcotics aliases alcohol, but successful immoderate cases voluntary intoxication whitethorn not legally negate consent.
In an on-camera question and reply pinch CNN successful which her look was obscured, nan female straight accused Swalwell of raping her successful New York. The broadcaster besides reported that 3 different women accused Swalwell of sending them inappropriate intersexual messages, including naked images, and unwanted touching.
The Manhattan territory attorney’s agency urged anyone pinch knowledge of nan allegations to interaction its typical victims division.
“Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators, and counselors are well-equipped to thief you successful a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner,” nan DA’s agency said successful a statement to CNN.
Swalwell has denied nan accusations arsenic “absolutely false” and suggested they were politically motivated. He noted that they travel up of nan June superior successful nan governor’s race switch Gavin Newsom, nan outgoing governor, successful which Swalwell was 1 of nan starring contenders to beforehand to a top-two runoff aft a non-partisan superior successful June.
“These allegations of intersexual battle are level false. They’re perfectly false. They did not happen, they person ne'er happened, and I will conflict them pinch everything that I have,” nan congressman said connected Friday.
The allegations, which person not been independently verified by nan Guardian, were published 4 days aft Swalwell told reporters successful Sacramento he’d ne'er had a intersexual narration pinch a unit personnel aliases intern.
Swalwell said successful a video connection connected societal media that he would walk nan play pinch family and friends and stock an update “very soon”.
Staff astatine Swalwell’s agency condemned nan alleged behaviour by nan Democratic congressman.
“We guidelines pinch our erstwhile colleague, and nan different women who person travel forward. We judge you should guidelines pinch them, too,” nan statement, obtained by nan Washington Post, said. “The behaviour elaborate successful these reports is abhorrent, beneath nan dignity of those serving successful nationalist agency and betrays nan spot of each Californians.”
They said that “any determination of unit members to stay successful their roles successful nan interim should not beryllium viewed arsenic support” for Swalwell.
The Manhattan DA’s investigation came a time aft salient supporters of Swalwell’s bid for politician began to retreat their backing, including each 21 of his backers successful Congress.
A number of starring California Democrats, including some of nan state’s senators and its lieutenant governor, urged Swalwell to extremity his campaign.
Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who hasn’t endorsed immoderate campaigner successful nan race, said nan “serious allegations” must beryllium investigated. She said she said to Swalwell and suggested that beryllium done “outside of a gubernatorial campaign”.
