Eric Swalwell's lawyers issue cease‑and‑desist to Tom Steyer campaign amid misconduct allegations

On March 20, attorneys for Congressman Eric Swalwell sent a cease‑and‑desist letter to Ryan Hughes, general counsel of billionaire Tom Steyer’s presidential campaign, alleging that Hughes was spreading false and defamatory information about Swalwell’s alleged sexual misconduct.

The letter, signed by lawyer Stephen Shackelford, warned that the Steyer campaign’s inquiries could lead to litigation, citing Shackelford’s prior work on the Dominion Voting Systems defamation case. Yardena Wolf, Swalwell’s chief of staff, forwarded the letter and texted Hughes about the potential legal consequences.

The threat came weeks before multiple women publicly accused Swalwell of rape and other sexual assaults, leading him to suspend his gubernatorial bid and resign from the House of Representatives. The Steyer campaign, which spent more than $200 million in the Democratic primary, finished third. Law‑enforcement investigations into the allegations remain ongoing.