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Manhattan DA Opens Criminal Probe into Sexual Assault Allegations Against Eric Swalwell

Manhattan DA Opens Criminal Probe into Sexual Assault Allegations Against Eric Swalwell
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The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office opened a criminal investigation into a sexual‑assault allegation against Rep. Eric Swalwell on Saturday, deepening a fast-moving crisis for the California Democrat and leading candidate for governor just weeks before the state’s June 2 primary cnn +1. Prosecutors publicly urged “survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations” to contact their Special Victims Division as multiple women came forward in news reports alleging assault and other misconduct dating back to 2019 cnn +1.

The probe followed detailed accounts from a former staffer who told CNN that Swalwell raped her in a New York hotel room in April 2024 while she was too intoxicated to consent, saying she was “pushing him off of me, saying no” nbcnewyork. The San Francisco Chronicle separately reported that a former congressional aide accused him of two nonconsensual encounters beginning in 2019, and CNN said three additional women described other forms of sexual misconduct, including unwanted explicit images, bringing the total number of accusers to four nbcnewyork +1. Swalwell has flatly denied all allegations, calling them “absolutely false” and pledging to “fight them with everything that I have” abc7.

What the Manhattan Investigation Covers

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office confirmed it is examining at least one criminal allegation related to an incident in New York City, where the former staffer said the 2024 assault occurred after an awards event cnn +1. The office did not name Swalwell in its statement but referenced “these allegations” as it publicized the Special Victims Division’s phone line, emphasizing that specially trained prosecutors and counselors would handle any reports in a “trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner” cnn.

No charges had been filed as of Saturday, and prosecutors gave no timetable for charging decisions. The New York inquiry adds to mounting legal scrutiny around Swalwell, whose campaign had already spent more than $300,000 on private attorneys specializing in white-collar defense and employment law prior to the allegations becoming public in March, according to state campaign filings reported by KCRA washingtonpost. Swalwell’s attorney, Elias Dabaie, said the congressman “intends to continue his campaign” and warned against a “rush to judgment,” suggesting the accusations may involve “political machinations” abc7ny.

Campaign in Freefall as Democrats Flee

Politically, the impact was immediate and severe. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined California’s two U.S. senators and other prominent Democrats in urging Swalwell to end his gubernatorial bid, calling the allegations “deeply disturbing” and insisting they be investigated with “full transparency and accountability” cbsnews +1. Several key endorsers, including campaign co-chair Adam Gray, rescinded their support, with Gray saying Swalwell should “end his campaign immediately” abc7ny +1.

Top campaign staffers resigned even before all of the details were public, and major Democratic fundraising platforms cut off his campaign, further isolating a candidate who only days earlier was considered a frontrunner for governor cbsnews +1. Current and former aides released an unsigned statement saying they were “horrified” by the accusations and standing with the women who came forward, underscoring internal revolt inside Swalwell’s operation thehill. Republicans, meanwhile, moved to exploit the turmoil, with at least one GOP lawmaker preparing a motion to censure or expel Swalwell from the House, according to multiple reports politico.

The Bigger Picture

The Manhattan inquiry ensured the scandal no longer rested solely in the realm of politics and media, but in the hands of prosecutors with the power to bring criminal charges. With California’s all-party primary less than two months away, Democrats now face the prospect of a once-dominant candidate campaigning under active investigation as party leaders try to contain the damage and elevate alternatives nytimes +1. Whether Swalwell can survive politically may hinge not only on the DA’s findings but also on whether additional accusers or evidence emerge in the weeks ahead.