California Congressman Eric Swalwell denied sexual misconduct allegations against him that circulated on social media.
"There has never been an allegation and there has never been a settlement," Swalwell said at a townhall attended by the New York Post. He is one of the top Democratic candidates for California governor.
The Post went on to note that when reporters asked about whether Swalwell had ever had a sexual relationship with a staff member or intern, he replied "No, no, no, no."
The campaign had already issued a statement to the New York Post addressing the allegations: "This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race."
Fox News reported that Cheyenne Hunt, a former Capitol Hill staffer and a political media personality, began circulating the accusations last week. Hunt now runs a youth political group called Gen-Z for Change. Fox reported that she began highlighting accusations that Swalwell had previously made sexual advances toward female staffers.
Hunt posted a video on Facebook on March 31 in which she discussed some of the messages she had been receiving regarding Swalwell.
"This message I received about Eric Swalwell is not an anomaly. While many folks may be afraid of speaking out, it is crucial that we bring these allegations to light and grapple with them," she wrote in a message accompanying the video.
In a social media post Wednesday, Hunt addressed Swalwell's denials.
"This statement was forced, false, and a clear signal they are bracing for impact," Hunt wrote. "Every day since I first spoke about this last week, more women have come forward. They've shared deeply personal stories that previously felt too isolated or too risky to expose. But now, they know they are not alone."
