Swalwell’s misconduct, assault allegations shake up California governor’s race
Congressman Eric Swalwell faces serious allegations of sexual misconduct, including rape, casting a shadow over his bid for governor of California. Top Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi, are urging Swalwell to drop out of the race amid mounting pressure. Former President Kevin McCarthy details Swalwell’s past ties to a Chinese spy.
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., faces allegations that he violated immigration and employment laws to keep a live-in nanny in the United States, including accusations that he paid her with campaign funds while she lacked work authorization, according to two recently filed complaints.
A complaint filed Tuesday with the Department of Labor alleges that Swalwell and his wife, Brittany Swalwell, lied to keep their nanny, Amanda Barbosa, employed, according to The New York Post.
In a separate complaint filed in February with the Department of Homeland Security by California filmmaker and political activist Joel Gilbert, first reported by The Post, Swalwell is accused of paying his nanny with campaign funds for about two years while she allegedly did not have a valid work authorization.
“Barbosa appears in numerous social media photographs with the Swalwell family throughout 2023 and 2024, indicating an ongoing close association and continued childcare responsibilities despite the absence of known legal work authorization,” the DHS complaint states.
ALLEGATIONS OF DOG SWALLOWING MISCONDUCT AS DEM RIVALERS’ SEASON OPENER IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S RACE
Representative Eric Swalwell speaks during a press conference on committee assignments for the 118th Congress at the United States Capitol on January 25, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Barbosa was first hired by Swalwell, who is running for governor of California, in 2021 after arriving in the United States from Brazil on an au pair visa, according to The Post.
Barbosa received $3,914 in campaign funds in 2021 and received $46,930 in 2022, according to data from the Federal Electoral Commission.
According to a labor certification application reviewed by The Post, Swalwell began the process of sponsoring Barbosa for a green card in December 2022, as his visa was about to expire.
DEM SENATOR SPOTLIGHTED FOR ‘DESFAMATION’ OF ACTIVIST WHO ADVOCATES FOR SWALWELL’S ACCUSERS: ‘VERY BAD LOOK’
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., delivers a speech while attending the SEIU-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) Gubernatorial Candidate Workers Forum at Meruelo Studios in Los Angeles, California, on January 10, 2026. (ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)
Barbosa later enrolled in a community college and was not allowed to work off campus under student visa rules, The Post reported. However, social media photos appear to show her interacting with Swalwell’s children at family events throughout 2023 and 2024.
FEC records reviewed by the outlet show Swalwell was reimbursed $52,262 in campaign expenses for “child care,” which the complaint alleges was a workaround to keep Barbosa employed while she was not authorized to work in the U.S.
The Labor Department told The Post that labor certification was approved in 2024. In 2025, Barbosa received $38,905 in campaign funds from Swalwell, according to FEC data.
SWALWELL CAMPAIGN SET OFF ALARMS AFTER ACCEPTING $25,000 DONATION FROM CCP-LINKED LAWYER: ‘STANDIGANT’
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel in the Rayburn House Office Building on September 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The complaints emerged as Swalwell faces separate allegations of sexual assault.
The San Francisco Chronicle first reported on the allegations by a former employee, and three more women later spoke to CNN with allegations of misconduct.
Swalwell has denied the allegations and has faced calls to abandon his bid for governor.
SWALWELL THREATENS FBI WITH LEGAL ACTION AS PATEL WEIGHES RELEASE OF ‘FANG FANG’ FILES
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., wears a protective mask while speaking during a House Intelligence Committee hearing on April 15, 2021 in Washington, DC (Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images)
“A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations, and I thought it was important for me to be seen and heard directly. These sexual assault allegations are completely false,” Swalwell said in a video posted Friday.
“They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything I have.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital has reached out to Swalwell’s congressional office for comment, as well as the Department of Labor, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Election Commission.
Fox News Digital’s Madison Colombo contributed to this report.