Eric Swalwell Caught with Child Porn: No Evidence Found

Eric Swalwell, a Democratic congressman, denied the accounts published by CNN and The San Francisco Chronicle. Nancy Pelosi was among those who said he should withdraw from the California governor’s race.

At least four women accuse Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct.Credit...Mike Kai Chen for The New York Times

Representative Eric Swalwell is under criminal investigation and facing calls to drop out of the California governor’s race after multiple women accused him of a range of sexual misconduct in news reports published Friday.

The woman said she tried to turn the conversation to her partner and Swalwell’s wife and children, but Swalwell continued to touch her.

The investigation comes a day after Swalwell said the allegations were "false".

Swalwell vehemently denied the allegations in his statement on Friday. "For nearly 20 years, I have served the public - as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women.

The broadcaster also reported that three other women accused Swalwell of sending them inappropriate sexual messages, including naked images, and unwanted touching. The Manhattan district attorney’s office urged anyone with knowledge of the allegations to contact its special victims division. “Our specially trained prosecutors, investigators, and counselors are well-equipped to help you in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner,” the DA’s office said in a statement to CNN.

Swalwell’s campaign did not respond to questions from the Guardian. The reports came days after posts had circulated social media, claiming that a groundswell of women would go public with accounts of inappropriate behavior they had experienced from Swalwell.

Also abandoning Swalwell was Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, who said he was withdrawing his endorsement and expressed regret for defending Swalwell in recent days. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for an investigation and said she spoke to Swalwell about leaving the race.

The probe comes as the California Democrat is in a political tailspin from unrelated allegations of sexual misconduct, which he says are false.

Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign is reeling from accusations of sexual misconduct.

"Eric has an option. I am going to bring this vote next week. If Democrats want to protect this type of garbage, I wouldn’t recommend it, but they are going to put on the board for that. I am tired of this," Luna said on Fox News. The San Francisco Chronicle published the account of a woman, who remains anonymous, who says she was hired at the age of 21 to work as an intern in Swalwell's district office. ... She claims Swalwell began pursuing her and sent her images of his genitalia.