Eric Swalwell Denies Sexual Misconduct Claims, Apologizes to Wife in Video

California Congressman Eric Swalwell posted a direct-to-camera video Friday defending himself against sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced this week. The Democratic lawmaker called the claims false and politically motivated.

In the video, Swalwell stared into the camera and said he wanted people to hear from him directly about the allegations. He vowed to fight what he described as false accusations while acknowledging he had made mistakes in his past.

Swalwell also used the video to apologize to his wife, though he did not specify what those past errors in judgment involved. The congressman did not provide details about the nature of the allegations or who made them.

The timing is critical for Swalwell's political future. He is currently running for California governor, and sexual misconduct allegations often prove damaging or fatal to political campaigns. His campaign team has not yet announced how they plan to address the claims going forward.