Former Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell is facing major backlash after several women accused him of sexual misconduct. A hotel room video also appeared online and was confirmed to be real and two criminal investigations have been opened against him.
Campaign funds and the hotel
A Newsweek review of Filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) show that former Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell’s campaign spent about $1,100 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas just hours before a video which was later confirmed as authentic and was recorded.
Records show that “Swalwell for Congress” made two payments of $539.70 each to the hotel on July 12, 2021 which was listed as ‘travel expenses’. A forensic report later determined that the video was recorded in the early hours of July 13, 2021. The footage shows an adult male kissing a woman on a bed inside what appears to be a hotel room.
The forensic analysis found that the videos were recorded on July 13, 2021, at 4:46am and 4:55am PT, based on metadata. It also determined the footage was captured in Las Vegas using an Apple device, as per Newsweek.
Newsweek looked at publicly available photos of rooms at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and compared them with what was seen in the video. Details like the room layout, furniture, blue bed skirting, a lowered ceiling section and a glass panel near the bed looked similar. A floor plan of the hotel’s two-bed "City Room" also closely matched the room shown in the clips. However, Newsweek said it could not independently confirm that the video was filmed in the same room paid for by the campaign.
{{/usCountry}}Newsweek looked at publicly available photos of rooms at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and compared them with what was seen in the video. Details like the room layout, furniture, blue bed skirting, a lowered ceiling section and a glass panel near the bed looked similar. A floor plan of the hotel’s two-bed "City Room" also closely matched the room shown in the clips. However, Newsweek said it could not independently confirm that the video was filmed in the same room paid for by the campaign.
{{/usCountry}}What was in the video?
The clips, which have spread widely on social media, show a man kissing an unidentified woman in what appears to be a hotel room and the two lying together on a bed. Another person is partially visible in one of the videos, as per Newsweek.
What are the allegations?
The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN first reported that a woman accused Eric Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice, including once when she was working under him.
CNN later reported that three more women came forward with different allegations of sexual misconduct, including claims that he sent unwanted explicit messages or nude images. A fifth woman has also accused him of sexual assault.
Also Read: Eric Swalwell to keep milking taxpayer-funded pension and gym access despite resigning from Congress
Swalwell has denied all the allegations. His lawyer called them "a calculated and transparent political hit job."
As the pressure grew, Swalwell first suspended his campaign for California governor, and then resigned from Congress entirely after calls from lawmakers in both parties for his removal.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that a special election to fill Swalwell's vacated seat will be held on August 18, 2026.