Katie Porter’s campaign says Cheyenne Hunt — the influencer amplifying allegations against Rep. Eric Swalwell — has only academic connections to Porter and "no relationship to speak of." Hunt, a UC Irvine Law graduate who interned on Capitol Hill, has said she is assisting women preparing to come forward but has not identified sources or provided details. Porter called the reports "very, very troubling," CNN has not independently verified the claims, and Swalwell’s campaign vehemently denies the allegations.
Porter Campaign: Influencer Behind Swalwell Claims 'Has No Relationship' With Candidate
Katie Porter and influencer behind Swalwell allegations "don't have a relationship to speak of," campaign says
Katie Porter’s campaign says the influencer who amplified allegations about Rep. Eric Swalwell has only academic ties to Porter and "no relationship to speak of." The allegations against Swalwell have not been independently verified, and his campaign has strongly denied the claims.
What Links Katie Porter And Cheyenne Hunt?
Cheyenne Hunt, a progressive activist and UC Irvine School of Law graduate, has posted that she is assisting women who say they may come forward with harassment claims involving Swalwell. Hunt enrolled at UC Irvine Law in fall 2018 and graduated in 2021, the same year Porter delivered the law school commencement address.
Porter, who served in Congress from 2019 to 2025 while remaining on leave from her teaching post at UC Irvine, continued to be formally affiliated with the law school and lived in on-campus housing during her congressional service. UC Irvine says Hunt participated in the law school's Washington externship program and interned on Capitol Hill in 2020.
Porter’s Response
"With regard to Congressman Swalwell, I have seen allegations coming from women staffers. They are very, very troubling allegations," Porter said on CNN. "It is those women's stories to tell when they are ready, and I hope that they feel safe and supported if they choose to do so."
When asked whether she had seen evidence, Porter said she had not personally spoken with any women announcing plans to come forward and emphasized the need to protect possible victims and ensure they feel safe reporting harassment or assault.
Swalwell Campaign Response And Media Notes
Swalwell's campaign called the accusations "false" and politically motivated, pointing out that no ethics complaints by staff have been filed against Swalwell in his 13 years in office. Media outlets, including CNN, have noted they have not independently verified the allegations and that some public language (such as "sexual assault") has not been substantiated in reporting to date.
Timeline Of Key Overlaps
- Fall 2018: Cheyenne Hunt matriculates at UC Irvine School of Law.
- 2018: Katie Porter is elected to Congress.
- 2019–2025: Porter serves in Congress while maintaining a formal affiliation with UC Irvine Law and living on campus.
- 2020: Hunt interns on Capitol Hill through UC Irvine's externship program.
- 2021: Porter delivers the UC Irvine Law commencement address attended by Hunt.
- 2024: Hunt runs for a neighboring Orange County congressional seat (CA-45), not Porter's former seat; a prior version of the story misstated this detail.
What's unresolved: Hunt has said she is working with multiple women preparing allegations but has not named anyone or provided incident details. The allegations against Swalwell remain unverified by independent outlets, and both public and legal processes may evolve if women come forward.
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