Ally Sammarco, one of four women who have formally accused congressman Eric Swalwell of sexual assault and harassment, is speaking out amid numerous claims.
“This has not been easy for me or the other women,” Sammarco, the only woman to go on record when accusing the politician of sexual abuse and misconduct, wrote via X on Sunday, April 12. “I have so much respect for them for telling their stories.”
She continued, “I shared mine publicly because I have a platform and resources that others may not — and I wanted to help validate their experiences. None of this is our fault. This is about abuse of power. No one paid us to come forward.”
Sammarco accused Swalwell, 45, of offering to “share her resume” with congressional offices before allegedly sending “very inappropriate” messages via Snapchat “insinuating we should get together and hook up” in a CNN investigation published on Friday, April 10.
She is one of four women who have accused the congressman of sexual assault and harassment, including a former staffer who claims the congressman raped her on at least two occasions. The other women have asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.
“For those questioning the timing: I don’t live in California, and I have no stake in who becomes Governor,” Sammarco continued on Sunday. “I’m a Democrat who wants this party to succeed.”
She concluded,” Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way.”
After CNN published its scathing report, Swalwell — the frontrunner in the California gubernatorial race at the time of the allegations — issued a video via social media denying the claims.
“A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations. I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly,” Swalwell said. “These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything I have.
He continued, “They also come on the eve of an election, where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor of California. I do not suggest to you in any way that I am perfect or that I’m a saint — I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this potion.” (Swalwell shares three children, Nelson, Cricket and Hank, with his wife, Brittany Watts.)
Swalwell went on to apologize to anyone who may have “doubted” their support for the congressman amid his bid for governor of California as a result of the allegations.
“I think you know who I am,” he added. “For over 20 years, I have served the public as a city councilman, as a member of congress and as a prosecutor who went to court on behalf of victims — particularly on behalf of sexual assault victims. That’s who I am and have always been.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Swalwell’s communications director for comment.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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