Eric Swalwell’s attorney has dismissed sexual assault allegations against the California Democrat as a “political hit job.”
Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on Sunday and resigned from Congress on Tuesday after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. Swalwell has denied the allegations.
Speaking on NewsNation’s CUOMO on Wednesday, attorney Sara Azari denied the accusations against her client and said they were aimed at upending his now suspended gubernatorial campaign.
“These allegations are false,” said Azari. “Regret is not rape.”
What To Know
“If it’s conspicuous, the timing of this, it’s because it’s just no coincidence that this is now being done as a political hit job on the eve of, you know, a governor run in California where he was leading the race,” Azari said.
She added: “It doesn’t matter what you like, whether you’re disgusted, whether you don’t like it, whether you think it’s immoral. None of that matters. What matters is whether or not this is true,” she said. “And I’m here to tell you it’s not.”
“I don’t care if you don’t like him,” she continued. “I don’t care if you are passing judgment because of inappropriate sex or immoral sex. The issue that we’re talking about here is whether it was unconsensual sex, that is, criminal sex.”
She also said Swalwell resigning from Congress was the “right thing to do” but was not an admission that he had committed the acts he is accused of.
“I think it demonstrates a tremendous amount of accountability, not because he’s done these things and he’s stepping down, but because how could he properly defend himself and represent his constituency with these serious allegations pending?” she said. “So he couldn’t be able to do his job properly, and it was the right thing to do.”
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a former staffer alleged Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019, when she worked for him, and again in 2024 at a charity gala. CNN reported that three additional women accused him of misconduct including unsolicited explicit messages and inappropriate physical contact.
On Tuesday, a fifth woman, Lonna Drewes, accused Swalwell of drugging and raping her during a 2018 encounter in Los Angeles. Swalwell, 45, who denied the previous allegations, declined to comment on thelatest one when reached via phone Tuesday afternoon. “I have no comment on anything—period—and I’m going to hang up now,” he told Newsweek during a brief interview.
“As we sit here today having this conversation…there are no criminal charges or any sort of civil complaint. These are all allegations in media,” Azari said on Wednesday.
In his resignation post on X, Swalwell said in his resignation post on X: “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgement I’ve made in my past.
“I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”
What Happens Next
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office have launched investigations into two different allegations, and the FBI has called on Swalwell to come forward with information.
A special election to replace Swalwell has been set for August 18, 2026. After the August special election, a general election for the seat will be held in November.
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