Rep. Eric Swalwell forcefully denied allegations of sexual misconduct involving staffers on Tuesday, suggesting the accusations on social media emanating from a handful of Democrat-aligned influencers and consultants were connected to a broader effort to thwart his bid for governor.

The claims first appeared on social media last month but have become more prominent on X and Instagram in recent days, where they’ve often been embraced by conservatives. The left-leaning influencers and consultants, including Gen Z for Change director Cheyenne Hunt and education influencer Arielle Fodor, have been vague about the claims but say they’ve talked to young, female staffers who experienced harassment, manipulation or abuse from Swalwell but have been reluctant to come forward because they signed non-disclosure agreements or feared legal repercussions.

In an X post Tuesday, Hunt said she and alleged victims are working with a “legal counsel and the investigative team of a highly reputable outlet to ensure that those stories are told the right way.”

The Bee has not verified the claims, and speaking to reporters after a Sacramento town hall Tuesday, Swalwell, D-Dublin, was unequivocal: “It’s false,” he said. The seven-term congressional representative said his office had never used NDAs and that he’d never had a relationship with a staffer.

Swalwell also questioned the timing of the claims.

“I will just take stock that, look, we’re 27 days before an election starts,” Swalwell said,...

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