Democratic Representative Eric Swalewell has suspended his bid for California governor following allegations of sexual harassment.
The congressman announced this on the social media platform X.
„I am suspending my campaign for governor. "I will fight the serious and false allegations that have been made, but this is my fight, not the campaign's," Swalewell said.
He also apologized to his family, staff and supporters "for past errors of judgment."
Previously, more than 50 former Swalewell staffers had called on him to drop out of the gubernatorial race and resign from his congressional seat. In a written statement, they called for a "full and thorough investigation" into the numerous allegations of sexual harassment against politicians.
"No one is above the law. No congressman. No gubernatorial candidate. No one," the document said.
The allegations against Swalewell were published in the San Francisco Chronicle last week. In the article, a former congresswoman claims he sexually assaulted her in a New York hotel room in 2024. According to the employee, she was too drunk to consent, and Swolwell ignored her attempts to refuse contact.
CNN later published new allegations against the congressman: three more women reported that he harassed them by sending them messages and photos despite their consent.
Swolwell has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced that investigators have begun reviewing the sexual assault allegation published in the San Francisco Chronicle.