Eric Swalwell accusers speak out after congressman announces resignation: 'HE THOUGHT HE WAS UNTOUCHABLE'

· Toronto Sun

Two of Eric Swalwell’s accusers appeared on CBS News in what they said was an effort to stop him from harming “future victims” as the Democratic congressman announced he will resign in the wake of allegations of sexual assault and other misconduct from multiple women .

Ally Sammarco and Annika Albrecht told the outlet they felt partly vindicated after Swalwell abruptly resigned from Congress late Monday after dropping out of California’s gubernatorial race amid the allegations.

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“He thought he was untouchable. He acted with total impunity. He never thought that the consequences of his actions would follow him,” Sammarco said.

“I think we just prevented another 30 to 40 years, potentially, of him harming people if he were to stay in Congress.”

The social media creator added: “As governor, he would have had even more power and more authority. And he would have felt vindicated too, you know, that he could run for higher office.”

Albrecht, who broke her silence for the first time in the interview, said justice wouldn’t be served for her “until he can’t ever harm a woman ever again — and he has faced the consequences for the women that he has harmed.”

How relationship with Swalwell began

She recalled how her relationship with Swalwell was initially that of a mentor and mentee — before he asked for her Snapchat.

Albrecht claimed the messages soon became “sexually inappropriate,” with the politician inviting her to a hotel.

“I keep thinking about how lucky I am that didn’t go to that hotel. It was very clear what the connotation was,” Albrecht told CBS News, adding she immediately ended contact.

Another woman, who has not been publicly identified, accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her in a New York City hotel room in 2024.

She claimed she was heavily intoxicated and woke up in her room after a charity gala to find Swalwell assaulting her.

“I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” the woman, who no longer worked at Swalwell’s office at the time of the alleged assault, told CNN. “He didn’t stop.”

Albrecht said she had spoken to some of Swalwell’s other accusers in recent days.

“It was terrifying to get on the phone with those women and hear their stories about how they were drinking with him and suddenly woke up in bed next to him with no recollection of how they got there,” she said.

Swalwell stepping down amid pressure from the House

The disgraced congressman made his resignation announcement late Monday afternoon, hours after he revealed he was exiting the race for California governor amid the brewing scandal.

“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members,” Swalwell said in a statement. “Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”

On Friday, several women came out in reports from CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle , accusing the politician of sexual misconduct, including sending explicit messages and nude photos.

Tony Gonzales also resigning

Swalwell’s resignation came about an hour before fellow congressman Tony Gonzales announced he was stepping down amid his own misconduct scandal.

Gonzales had previously decided not to run for reelection over his relationship with a former staffer who died by suicide last year.

Swalwell, meanwhile, has denied the allegations, though admitted to past “mistakes in judgment.”

“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” he said Monday on social media.

“I will fight the serious false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”

The House was expected to vote in the coming days on whether to expel Swalwell, though it was unclear whether it had the two-thirds majority support it needed to successfully remove him from office.

Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, who was leading the expulsion effort, said Swalwell made the right decision to resign ahead of the vote to remove him — but said it wasn’t over.

“He made the correct decision, but there still needs to be a full-fledged criminal investigation,” Luna said.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed to CBS News on Sunday that it is investigating allegations against Swalwell.

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