A lawyerly warning has entered the latest fight around Rep. Eric Swalwell as the husband of one of his accusers threatened legal action if Swalwell “disparages” his wife.
In posts early Sunday, April 12, former DNC field director Adam Parkhomenko said he hopes Swalwell “gets the help he needs,” but added that if Swalwell or his attorney makes “a single statement that disparages my wife,” he will file a lawsuit. Parkhomenko also urged care in what Swalwell says while deciding his next steps, and said the congressman should “resign immediately.”
Sammarco is one of four women who have accused Swalwell, 45, of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment. One of the accusers, described as a former staffer, claims the gubernatorial hopeful raped her. Sammarco has said the politician previously offered to “share her resume” with other congressional offices before sending “very inappropriate” messages via Snapchat, according to a Friday, April 10 CNN investigation. She also claimed the messages insinuated the two should “get together and hook up.”
Parkhomenko’s new remarks followed Swalwell’s own public denial. In a Friday social media video, Swalwell said, “These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen,” adding, “I will fight them with everything I have.” He further said the allegations “come on the eve of an election,” when he is the frontrunner candidate for governor of California. He acknowledged he is not “perfect” and said past judgment mistakes were between him and his wife, apologizing “deeply for putting her in this position.”
Swalwell was elected to represent California’s 14th district in the House of Representatives in 2023 and is currently the frontrunner in the state’s race for governor. He has been married to Brittany Watts since 2016, and they share three children. Watts has not publicly addressed the scandal. Us Weekly has reached out to Swalwell’s communications director for comment.
Meanwhile, Parkhomenko said Swalwell should sue immediately if he believes any part of Sammarco’s account is untrue. He also criticized the denial video after it was uploaded to social media, tweeting on Friday that Sammarco’s name is “Ally Sammarco” and that she “isn’t named anonymous.” Parkhomenko wrote that she “went on the record” and suggested it could help other women come forward. He added that he learned a lot and that she has his full support.
The situation remains in motion, with legal threats now layered on top of competing claims about what was said and what happened—there’s a lot of heat, even in the word choices. Parkhomenko’s condition—no “disparaging” statements—puts a bright line around what Swalwell can say next, at least for now. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).