Manhattan DA Reviews Sexual Assault Claims Against Rep. Swalwell

The stakes for Rep. Eric Swalwell could hardly be higher. A leading contender to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Democrat now confronts a Manhattan prosecutor's review of sexual assault allegations at the precise moment his gubernatorial campaign demands every ounce of political capital. Four women have leveled accusations of misconduct ranging from harassment to rape. Swalwell calls every claim false.

The first account surfaced in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 11, 2026. A former district office staffer described two encounters in which she said she was too intoxicated to consent: one in September 2019 after drinks near his Castro Valley office, another in 2024 following a New York charity gala. She told CNN the second incident amounted to rape in a Manhattan hotel room. CNN separately reported three additional women accusing Swalwell of sexual misconduct. The Manhattan District Attorney's office responded by issuing a public statement urging anyone with knowledge of the allegations to contact its victim services unit, describing its approach as trauma-informed and survivor-centered. No charges have been filed, and the precise scope of any active investigation remains unconfirmed by the DA's office itself.

Swalwell, who served as a prosecutor before entering Congress in 2012, released a video statement denying the claims outright. He said he has spent nearly two decades protecting women and would defend himself with facts, adding that any past mistakes in judgment were between him and his wife, to whom he apologized. His congressional and campaign staff issued a separate unsigned statement expressing horror at the reports and declaring they stand with the accusers. Prominent California Democrats moved quickly. Nancy Pelosi said the matter should be investigated outside the gubernatorial campaign. Gavin Newsom called the allegations deeply troubling. Sen. Adam Schiff and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries withdrew prior support, according to multiple outlets. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, announced plans to file a motion to expel Swalwell from Congress, arguing he should not remain in Washington if he leaves the governor's race.

The accusations land in a wide-open California primary. With ballots due to voters in coming weeks, no candidate has consolidated the Democratic field. The state's top-two primary system means the two highest vote-getters in June advance to November regardless of party. Swalwell had polled as a frontrunner; the sudden erosion of institutional backing now raises the prospect that Democrats could fail to reach the general election altogether.

Separate complaints, first reported by the New York Post, allege Swalwell and his wife violated immigration and campaign finance rules in their employment of a live-in nanny from Brazil. Amanda Barbosa was hired in 2021 on an au pair visa. Federal Election Commission records show Swalwell's campaign paid her $3,914 in 2021 and $46,930 in 2022, with an additional $38,905 disbursed in 2025. Another $52,262 was reimbursed to Swalwell personally for "childcare." A February 2026 complaint to the Department of Homeland Security, filed by California filmmaker and activist Joel Gilbert, claims Barbosa lacked valid work authorization after her visa expired and that campaign funds were used to circumvent the rules. A separate complaint to the Department of Labor alleges the Swalwells lied on paperwork to retain her services. Social media photos from 2023 and 2024 appear to show Barbosa continuing to interact with the family. Swalwell's office began green-card sponsorship for her in December 2022; the Department of Labor approved the labor certification in 2024. FEC advisory opinions since 2019 explicitly permit campaign funds for childcare expenses incurred as a direct result of campaign activity. Neither federal agency has issued findings on the complaints.

Gilbert, who maintains a website calling for Swalwell's disqualification, has a history of producing partisan documentaries, including works promoted on InfoWars. His role was not disclosed in every outlet that covered the filings. Swalwell has not publicly addressed the nanny matter. He has faced earlier scrutiny over 2010s contacts with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative named Fang Fang, though that episode produced no charges and was referenced in some coverage as background.

The central tension remains unresolved: whether unadjudicated allegations from multiple accusers, paired with pending administrative complaints, will end Swalwell's viability as a candidate before California voters render their own verdict. The Manhattan DA has not confirmed interviews, subpoenas or any timeline. The immigration complaints sit with two agencies that have yet to rule. Every element awaits verification or dismissal through formal processes that have only just begun.