Two of the four women who have accused Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct are speaking out after the politician announced his resignation from Congress.
“He was pushed into a corner, essentially, because they were planning to expel him…so I think he did that to save face a little,” Ally Sammarco, the only woman to go on record with her claims in a CNN report published on Friday, April 10, told CBS News in an interview published on Tuesday, April 14. “But I also felt very vindicated that he realized it was over for him.”
Annika Albrecht, who first asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution but is now coming forward publicly for the first time, told CBS News, “For me, justice won’t be until he can’t ever harm a woman ever again, and he has faced the consequences for the women that he has harmed.”
Swalwell, 45, announced on Monday, April 13, that he was resigning from Congress after being accused of sexual abuse and harassment by multiple women, including a former staffer who has accused the now-disgraced politican of rape. Both Sammarco and Albrecht claim Swalwell specifically sent them inappropriate messages via Snapchat after promising to help further their careers.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell wrote in a statement shared via X on Monday. “I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make. I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members.”
He continued, “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. I will work with my staff in the coming days to ensure that they are able, in my absence, to serve the needs of the good people of the 14th congressional district.”
Swalwell was elected to congress in 2012 and has represented multiple districts in Northern California. He attempted to run for president during the 2020 election, but ultimately dropped out due to low polling numbers.
Swalwell was the frontrunner in the race for governor of California when the allegations broke. He has since withdrawn from the race.
“He thought he was untouchable. He acted with total impunity. He never thought that the consequences of his actions would follow him,” Sammarco claimed to CBS News. “I think we just prevented another 30 to 40 years, potentially, of him harming people if he were to stay in Congress. 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. He ran for president and nothing came out about him. So I think that empowered him to continue doing what he was doing.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Swalwell’s team for additional comment.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
