The husband of one of Eric Swalwell’s accusers has threatened legal action if the congressman “disparages” his wife, Ally Sammarco, amid multiple sexual assault and harassment allegations against the politician.
“I wish the best for his family, and I hope he gets the help he needs,” former DNC field director Adam Parkhomenko wrote via X early on Sunday, April 12. “If Eric Swalwell or his attorney makes a single statement that disparages my wife, I will be filing a lawsuit against him.”
Sammarco is among the four women who have accused Swalwell, 45, of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment — including a former staffer who claims the gubernatorial hopeful raped her.
Sammarco claimed in a Friday, April 10, CNN investigation that the politician previously offered to “share her resume” with other congressional offices before sending “very inappropriate” messages via Snapchat. (Sammarco claimed that Swalwell’s messages insinuated that the pair should “get together and hook up.”)
“I’ve already made clear that if he believes anything I’ve said is untrue, he should sue me immediately,” Parkhomenko added on Sunday. “As he considers his next steps in the coming days, he should be very careful about what he chooses to say. He should also resign immediately.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Swalwell’s communications director for comment.
Swalwell, who was elected to represent California’s 14th district in the House of Representatives in 2023, is currently the frontrunner in the state’s race for governor. He has vehemently denied the accusations.
“These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen,” Swalwell said in a Friday social media video, addressing the accusations. “They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything I have.”
He continued, “They also come on the eve of an election, where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor of California. I do not suggest to you in any way that I am perfect or that I’m a saint — I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position.”
Swalwell has been married to Brittany Watts, with whom he shares three children, since 2016. Watts has not publicly addressed the scandal.
Parkhomenko, meanwhile, slammed Swalwell’s denial video after it was uploaded to social media.
“My wife’s name is Ally Sammarco. Obviously you know that, but she’s not named anonymous,” he tweeted on Friday. “She also went on the record with CNN, so that hopefully this does not happen to other women and maybe it would help other women come forward. … I’ve been very supportive of you over the years but even I learned a lot today. And she has my full support.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
