More women accuse former congressman Eric Swalwell of inappropriate behavior

More than a dozen women come forward with misconduct allegations against former California Rep. Eric Swalwell After he resigned from Congress.

Countless women were interviewed CNN Regarding the alleged interactions – whether in person or via social media – the 45-year-old married former congressman made them uncomfortable. Some have accused Swalwell of displaying “Jekyll and Hyde” behavior, in which he publicly supported victims of abuse but sometimes acted inappropriately behind the scenes.

The new accusations date back to Swalwell’s college days at Campbell University in North Carolina, where he published a poem in which he boasted: “She chases, I run/I chase, she runs/She bites my anxious arm—my scars are beautiful/When I scream/She curves her lips to mine.”

“(Swalwell) categorically denies being rude to women nearly three decades ago in college,” his attorney told CNN. “(The poem) is clearly a teenage metaphor about drinking, not sex.”

Swalwell’s allegedly troubling behavior continued into his early political career, with him reportedly holding a congressional meeting at a Hooters restaurant in 2012. (His attorney told CNN that Swalwell’s decision to “occasionally hold meetings at a casual chain restaurant” was not newsworthy.)

Multiple women claim that despite being married, Swalwell used Snapchat to send them excessively flirtatious messages over the years. (Swalwell is married to his wife, Brittany Wattssince 2016, they have three children together. )

Heather Purcell told the outlet that when they met at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Swalwell “looked (her) up and down in a way that made (her) uncomfortable” and touched her shoulder. When they reconnected months later, Swalwell allegedly gave Purcell his personal phone number. (Purcell said she never called Swalwell, and they never interacted again.)

“(I) had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right about the power dynamic — that he was just trying to have a personal relationship in what was supposed to be a professional relationship,” Purcell said.

Swalwell’s attorney described the politician’s interactions with Purcell as “routine and non-controversial.”

An unnamed woman claimed that Swalwell once took her bag during a private meeting at a bar and walked to the elevator, seemingly to convince her to go to his hotel room. The woman recalled riding with Swalwell to his floor and grabbing her bag.

“I said, ‘How dare you disrespect me like this,'” the woman said. “When the elevator closed, he stood there with a shocked look on his face. … If it had been anyone else, I would have screamed and called security. But this was someone I knew professionally, and he was a member of Congress.”

Swalwell’s attorney called the accusations “completely false.”

An unnamed former staffer for another congressional representative told CNN that she and Swalwell had a consensual sexual relationship over several years and that they allegedly met multiple times in hotels to have sex. According to staff, they exchanged explicit videos and photos during a consensual relationship.

“His stories would be his congressional content, but then he would send me pornographic photos,” she recalled.

Swalwell’s attorney told the outlet that “there was no supervisory or professional relationship and therefore no power imbalance.”

washington dc real estate agent Sanam Vivansia Said she exchanged flirtatious messages with Swalwell after meeting in 2021, and when they later met in San Francisco, Swalwell invited her back to his hotel room. Vivancia allegedly sent Swalwell a text message complaining that he “made (her) feel very uncomfortable,” although he responded that her version of events was “not what happened.” (Swalwell’s attorneys deny wrongdoing by the representative.)

His lawyers also responded more broadly to allegations that Swalwell had inappropriate interactions with women over the years.

Swalwell’s attorney told CNN, “Swalwell categorically and unequivocally denies every allegation of sexual misconduct and sexual assault made against him.”

The attorney described any interactions Swalwell did have as “routine and professional” but admitted he had “extramarital contact with women.”

“He doesn’t deny that,” the lawyer said. “But that’s very different from sexual misconduct without consent.”

US Weekly Swalwell has been contacted about the allegations.

Many women come forward Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Swalwell in April. A former staff member at the regional office in Castro Valley, Calif., told reporters san francisco chronicle Politician Swalwell had propositioned her for oral sex and later invited her out for drinks before she “blacked out” and allegedly woke up naked in Swalwell’s hotel bed when she allegedly felt him initiate vaginal intercourse.

content creator Ellie Sammarco Swalwell allegedly offered to “share her resume” with his contacts before sending her a “highly inappropriate” Snapchat message. Other women who made allegations of inappropriate behavior at the time chose to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.

Swalwell was the front-runner in the California gubernatorial race when the scandal broke. The congressman’s initial reaction to the controversy on April 11 was to say “the sexual assault allegations are completely false.”

“They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They never happened. I will fight them to the best of my ability,” Swalwell said in a statement at the time. “They also came up on the eve of an election where I was the leading candidate for governor of California.”

He continued, “I’m not in any way suggesting to you that I’m perfect, or that I’m a saint – I’ve certainly made errors of judgment in the past, but those errors were between my wife and I. To her, I’m deeply sorry for putting her in this situation.”

swalwell final suspend his gubernatorial campaign Before April 12 resign from parliament Amid the threat of an expulsion vote in the House.

“I deeply apologize to my family, staff, and constituents for the errors of judgment I have made in the past,” Swalwell announced in a statement shared via

The California representative continued, “I am aware that there are attempts to immediately expel me and other members. It is wrong to expel anyone from Congress without due process within days of accusations being made. But it is also wrong for my constituents to distract me from my duty. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress. I will be working with my staff in the coming days to ensure that in my absence they are able to serve the needs of the good people of the 14th Congressional District.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact National Sexual Assault Hotline Phone: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).