Eric Swalwell apologizes to wife as he denies rape | Political News

California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell has delivered an apology to his wife while firmly rejecting allegations that he inappropriately assaulted a lady on two separate events, including one occasion when she labored for him.

The Democratic consultant is under mounting strain to withdraw, with a number of distinguished supporters pulling their endorsements.

“These allegations of inappropriate assault are flat false. They’re absolutely false. They did not happen, they have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have,” he declared.

In a social media video, he also expressed regret to Brittany Watts, his wife of 9 years, acknowledging he’s made “mistakes in judgment in my past.

“But those errors are between me and my wife, and to her I apologize deeply for placing her in this place,” he said, reports the Mirror US.

Thus far, he has refused demands to step aside, announcing on social media that he would take the weekend with family and share an update “very soon.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that a lady alleged Swalwell inappropriately assaulted her in 2019 and 2024. The publication examined textual content messages associated to the alleged 2024 assault and interviewed people she had confided in. She explained to the newspaper that she prevented contacting police due to fears of not being taken severely.

The lady was employed by Swalwell in 2019, when the first alleged assault happened, and the 2024 assault allegedly occurred following a charity gala, according to the newspaper. She said that in both situations she was too intoxicated to consent to intercourse.

The publication didn’t determine the lady, and Mirror US has been unable to independently verify her account and id.

Swalwell had been among the frontrunners in the Democratic area hoping to succeed outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom, who is seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender.

However, within mere hours, his most influential supporters, including Senator Adam Schiff and influential labor organizations, pulled their endorsements and urged him to abandon the race.

Newsom has largely stayed out of the race to succeed him, launched a assertion saying: “The San Francisco Chronicle disclosed Friday that a woman claimed Swalwell inappropriately assaulted her in 2019 and 2024. The outlet reviewed text messages connected to the alleged 2024 incident and spoke with people she had told about it. She told the newspaper that she didn’t go to police because she was worried about not being believed. The woman was hired by Swalwell in 2019, when the first alleged assault occurred, and the 2024 assault allegedly took place after a charity gala, according to the newspaper. She claimed that on both occasions she was too intoxicated to consent to sex.”

Swalwell had been among the main candidates in the Democratic area vying to exchange outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom, who is considered as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

Yet, within just hours, his most highly effective backers, including Senator Adam Schiff and distinguished labor unions, withdrew their endorsements and called on him to exit the race.

Newsom has largely remained uninvolved in the race to exchange him, issuing a assertion saying: “As we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has not endorsed anybody in the competition, characterised the “serious allegations” as warranting investigation and disclosed she had spoken with Swalwell, suggesting such an inquiry happen “outside of a gubernatorial campaign.” The allegations surfaced at a vital juncture in the extremely aggressive race to lead the nation’s most populous state. Mail ballots are scheduled to attain voters next month prior to the June 2 election. On Tuesday, Swalwell kicked off a deliberate sequence of marketing campaign stops in Sacramento, where he told reporters he’s never had a inappropriate relationship with a workers member or intern. He later scrapped the next scheduled look in Palm Springs on Thursday.

Unsubstantiated and ambiguous rumors suggesting Swalwell behaved inappropriately with feminine workers members have been swirling on social media for weeks, but the Chronicle’s reporting marks the first documented occasion of somebody making a particular allegation. GWN also verified that a number of girls accused Swalwell of sending them inappropriate inappropriate messages. He has recommended the accusations had been half of an assault associated to his marketing campaign’s growing momentum.