Summary: CNN reports that more than a dozen women say former Congressman Eric Swalwell sent sexually explicit Snapchat messages, including nude images and alleged masturbation videos. A former staffer says a consensual relationship developed after Snapchat contact and provided videos to CNN. The allegations were reported after Swalwell resigned amid separate assault accusations; his lawyer was contacted and some women say he later confronted them about screenshots.
CNN: More Than a Dozen Women Allege Eric Swalwell Sent Explicit Snapchats, Including Masturbation Videos
More than a dozen women told CNN that former congressman Eric Swalwell sent sexually explicit messages on Snapchat — including alleged nude photos and videos of him masturbating — after joining the platform as part of an effort to open his office to the public. The accounts, compiled in a CNN investigation published Sunday, describe interactions that took place over the last decade and include both in-person and online encounters.
Key Allegations
The report says several women received unsolicited sexually explicit Snapchat messages after Swalwell, who had been among the earlier members of Congress to join the platform, began using it to communicate with constituents. One young woman says messages about her future soon turned into intrusive personal questions such as, "What are you wearing?" Two women told CNN they received nude photos and videos in 2021, and a third described receiving sexually tinged messages and videos.
A former congressional staffer told CNN that what began as flirtatious Snapchat exchanges in 2021 developed into a consensual sexual relationship. She said Swalwell sent nude photos and videos that included his face and body, and she saved and later showed those videos to CNN. The staffer also said Swalwell sent another explicit video late last year, weeks before he announced a 2026 campaign for California governor.
Other reported incidents include offers to write letters of recommendation for women he had briefly met or never met, and a case in which a 19-year-old restaurant hostess, Clara Miklaucic, said Swalwell located her on LinkedIn after a brief interaction and sent flattering messages despite their significant age difference.
Response And Context
CNN reports that it contacted Swalwell's lawyer for comment; after the outreach, some women say Swalwell confronted them late at night about taking screenshots of his messages. Swalwell previously promoted Snapchat in 2016 as a way to "restore faith" in democracy by making his work more accessible — a goal cited in media coverage when he joined the platform.
Separately, Swalwell resigned from Congress weeks earlier amid separate allegations that he raped or sexually assaulted multiple women; those allegations are distinct from the Snapchat accounts described in CNN's report. The accounts in CNN's investigation are allegations and have been reported as such.
What Remains Unclear
CNN said it interviewed more than a dozen women and viewed materials some women provided. As of the report, there has been no indication in the CNN story that Swalwell admitted to wrongdoing. Investigations and journalistic reporting are continuing, and formal legal developments could follow.
Note: This article summarizes allegations reported by CNN and other outlets. The claims described here are those made to reporters and have not been adjudicated in court.
Help us improve.
