Frontrunner for California governor denies sexual assault allegations

• 01Eric Swalwell is a Democratic congressman and candidate in California's gubernatorial race, with a primary election scheduled for 2 June.
• 02Multiple women made allegations against Swalwell ranging from sexual harassment to rape, according to reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN on Friday.
• 03A former staff member told the San Francisco Chronicle that Swalwell made inappropriate comments and solicited her for sex shortly after she was hired to work in his district office in Castro Valley.
• 04The former staff member said that in September 2019 she woke up naked in Swalwell's hotel room with little recollection of the previous night, and later recalled pushing him away and telling him 'no' when they met for drinks at a gala five years later.
• 05CNN published accusations from four women who worked for Swalwell on Friday; his legal team had sent cease-and-desist letters to two of the accusers the day prior.
• 06Swalwell stated: 'These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor' and 'For nearly 20 years, I have served the public - as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women.'
• 07Prominent California Democrats including Senator Adam Schiff and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on Swalwell to leave the race; House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also called on him to step aside.
• 08Pelosi said in a statement: 'As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign,' referring to investigation of the allegations.

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Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, denied allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women after reports emerged in the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN on Friday. The accusations ranged from sexual harassment to rape, with one former staff member describing inappropriate comments, solicitation for sex, and an incident in which she said she woke up naked in Swalwell's hotel room in September 2019. Prominent California Democrats including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Adam Schiff called on Swalwell to withdraw from the June 2 primary.