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Anxiety or OCD? Psychology experts explain the difference
Anxiety itself is not a mental illness. It’s a normal, adaptive emotion that helps us respond to perceived threats.
Anxiety is the automatic reaction that makes you jump back when you think you’ve seen a snake while bushwalking – before realising it’s a stick.
It’s also (inconveniently) the sweaty palms and shaky voice you notice before a presentation or a first date, or the circling thoughts that keep you awake at 3am.
Most of us have ways to cope with anxious thoughts and feelings that can give us more of a sense of control. This could be checking and double-checking we’ve got the room right for our presentation, or seeking reassurance from someone we love.
But when might these behaviours fit a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder? And when could they actually be a sign of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?
As clinical psychologists, we find these questions come up a lot, perhaps spurred by a recent surge of interest in OCD on social media. So what’s the difference between anxiety and OCD? And how are they treated?
When is anxiety something more serious?
“Normal” anxiety can become an anxiety disorder when fears or worry are persistent, intense and start interfering with everyday life.
About one in three people will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lifetime.
Among the most common are social anxiety disorder (fear in social situations), panic disorder (frequent panic attacks, and fears you’ll have another) and generalised anxiety disorder (persistent and excessive worry).
These disorders have slightly different symptoms. But all share excessive and persistent fear or worry that causes distress or leads people to avoid important parts of life including work, study or social activities.
So, what about OCD?
Although OCD involves anxiety, it is actually considered a separate disorder in the diagnostic manual used by mental health professionals.
It is possible to have both – around half to three-quarters of individuals with OCD also meet criteria for one or more anxiety disorders as well.
OCD involves obsessions, compulsions, or both. These cause significant distress or interfere with daily functioning.
Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images or urges. This could mean an intense fear your food is contaminated, suddenly visualising hurting someone, or a feeling that keeps entering your mind that you’ve made a serious mistake.
Compulsions are the repetitive behaviours (or mental rituals) people feel driven to perform to ease that distress, such as checking, repeating phrases, excessive hand-washing or seeking reassurance.
Many of us will occasionally experience unwanted thoughts or go back to check the oven is actually off. Keeping things tidy or being particular about routines can simply be habits that don’t cause distress.
But what makes OCD different is its severity and impact.
If obsessions or compulsions take up large amounts of time, cause you significant distress, or interfere with daily life, it may be a sign of OCD.
You can’t “spot” OCD from behaviour alone. OCD can also be invisible because many compulsions happen mentally, such as repeating phrases or counting. People with OCD may also try to hide their symptoms out of shame.
Are OCD and anxiety treated differently?
While anxiety disorders and OCD share some similarities, including repetitive distressing thoughts, the patterns and beliefs driving them are different. This means the way they’re treated will also differ.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective treatments for both anxiety disorders and OCD.
For OCD, treatment often involves a specialised form of CBT called exposure and response prevention (ERP). It involves gradually facing situations that trigger distressing thoughts while resisting the urge to perform compulsions.
About the authors
Emily Upton is a PhD Candidate in Psychology at UNSW Sydney; Black Dog Institute. Kayla Steele is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Clinical Psychologist at UNSW Sydney.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
For example, someone with contamination fears might gradually reduce the number of times they wash their hands before eating. Over time, people learn the feared outcome does not occur, that they can tolerate their discomfort without the ritual, and that the anxiety passes on its own.
Treatment for anxiety disorders focuses on the specific fear. For generalised anxiety, for example, it involves understanding patterns of worry, challenging beliefs that keep worries going, and developing more helpful ways to respond to problems, such as brainstorming solutions and taking small actions.
Antidepressant medication (particularly selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SSRIs) can be an effective component of treatment for both anxiety disorders and OCD. A combined treatment approach of medication (SSRIs) and therapy (CBT) often leads to the best treatment outcomes, especially for severe OCD.
A final note
While it’s great mental health is being discussed more openly online and stigma is reducing, social media can also blur the line between personal experience and evidence-based information.
If something you’ve seen online has sparked curiosity about your mental health, the best next step is to talk with a qualified professional who can help you understand what you’re experiencing and what support might help.
For more information and resources about anxiety and OCD, visit the Black Dog Institute or Beyond Blue, and ReachOut or Headspace for young people.
There are lots of evidence-based online treatment programs for anxiety disorders and OCD you can access for free or low-cost, such as This Way Up, MyNewWay or Mindspot.
There are also online treatments for kids and teens with OCD and anxiety.
You can also ask your GP about a Mental Health Care Plan for Medicare-rebated psychology sessions.
How much compensation you’ll get if your broadband goes down under new rules
Most broadband and landline customers will now get more compensation for each day their service is down.
Customers of the UK’s major broadband providers must receive payments when their connection stops working and is not fixed after two working days, under a voluntary scheme organised by communications regulator Ofcom.
When you report that your service is down, you will now receive £10.34 in compensation automatically if it isn’t fixed after two working days, and then £10.34 for each day it is not fixed after that, up from £8 previously.
You will also receive £32.31 in compensation if an engineer misses your scheduled appointment, which is up from £25. If your broadband provider fails to start a new service on the promised date, you will be paid £6.46 for each calendar day it is delayed, up from £5.
Automatic compensation increases are in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure of inflation from October 2025.
Who will get compensation?
The following providers have to pay compensation: BT, Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk, EE, Plusnet, Vodafone, Hyperoptic, Utility Warehouse and Zen Internet.
However, compensation for customers on TalkTalk and Vodafone will depend on what network you’re on. For example, only TalkTalk customers who have their service provided by Openreach will get paid for loss of service and missed repair appointments. Check the full criteria on your provider’s website and reach out to customer support to find out more.
Under the scheme, your broadband or landline need to be completely down. You will still be compensated even if the outage is caused by an event outside of the provider’s control, for example, extreme weather.
After 30 days of receiving automatic compensation, your provider can get in touch to let you know that these payments will stop after a further 30 days. Then, they must give you a suitable alternative service, otherwise you will continue to be entitled to automatic compensation.
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How to claim compensation
Report the fault to your provider straight away. If the issue isn’t fixed within the specified timeframe, you should receive compensation automatically within 30 days.
This will be credited to your to bill unless stated otherwise.
If you don’t get compensation, contact your provider and explain why you think you’re eligible. If the issue still isn’t resolved, you can escalate your complaint to an Ofcom-approved dispute resolution service for free.
When are you not entitled to compensation?
Customers of smaller broadband firms such as Community Fibre, Giffgaff and Gigaclear will not be entitled to compensation under Ofcom’s scheme.
However, you should still report any faults to your provider and, if you have been inconvenienced by the lack of service, ask for a goodwill payment.
You won’t be paid compensation under Ofcom’s scheme if your broadband was down for fewer than two working days after you reported the fault. You also won’t be entitled if the loss of service was caused by something within your control, for example, damage to the router or wiring inside your home.
Similarly, you won’t be paid compensation if you prevent the issue from being resolved within two days – for example, if you ask for an engineer appointment that is two working days after you have reported the fault – or breach your contract in some way.
Average shelf life of a mortgage ‘falls to record low of just eight days’
The average “shelf life” of a mortgage is just over a week – which is around half the length recorded in the aftermath of the mini-budget – according to a financial information website.
At the start of April, mortgages were sitting on the market for just eight days before disappearing, Moneyfacts said.
This is the shortest time recorded since the website’s records started in November 2011.
At the start of October 2022, in the days following the mini-budget, mortgages had a typical shelf life of 15 days.
Mortgage rates have jumped and deals have been withdrawn in recent weeks as the conflict in the Middle East changed expectations for financial markets.
Swap rates, which are used by lenders to price mortgages, increased.
Lenders pulled products from sale amid uncertainty over the future path of interest rates.
Moneyfacts said that at the start of April, it counted 6,201 mortgage products, compared with 7,484 at the start of March.
The pool of 6,201 options is at its lowest count in two years since March 2024, when 6,004 deals were available, the website said.
Rachel Springall, a finance expert at Moneyfacts, said: “The lifespan of a mortgage deal has plummeted to a record low of just eight days on average and mortgage product availability has shrunk by around 17% in just one month.”
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She added: “The unrest in the Middle East caused mortgage mayhem, with lenders rushing to pull products from sale and reprice at higher rates throughout March.
“Unfortunately, this has led to a drop of almost 400 options for borrowers with just a 5% or 10% deposit or equity, awful news for first-time buyers.
“The market overall has experienced the worst upheaval to mortgage choice since the mini-budget, yet another blow for borrowers over the past five years, which includes the surge in interest rates during the summer of 2023 amid higher inflation expectations.”
Ms Springall said that, based on average mortgage rates and a loan of £250,000 over 25 years: “If someone took out a typical mortgage now, compared to the start of March, it would cost them around £1,800 a year more in repayments on a two-year fixed deal.
“Worse still, borrowing the same size loan on a typical mortgage now, compared to 2021 on a five-year fixed deal, would cost around £5,000 more in mortgage repayments over one year.”
Borrowers’ individual circumstances will vary.
Ms Springall added: “It will be essential for borrowers to keep calm and seek advice from a broker to navigate the mortgage maze.
“Brokers are an anchor during times of turbulence as they can help borrowers understand how they can best afford a mortgage or plan the available options months in advance.”
She said some borrowers may consider making mortgage overpayments to potentially reduce their costs over the longer term.
Mahieka Sharma: When Hardik Pandya revealed what made him connect with girlfriend Mahieka Sharma: “We started talking…” | – The Times of India
With the 2026 IPL season in full swing, the spotlight on Mumbai Indian’s player Hardik Pandya has shifted from cricket to his personal life. While he’s always been the Mumbai Indians’ flashiest all-rounder, lately there’s a different kind of energy behind his performance – and he’s not shy about giving the credit to his girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma.In a recent candid moment, Hardik admitted that his conversations with Mahieka helped him tap back into his “inner child,” triggering a batting resurgence that even his toughest critics didn’t see coming. After a very public divorce and a brutal period of scrutiny, this feels less like a typical celebrity romance and more like a genuine redemption arc.
From personal lows to love and long nets
Hardik’s journey hasn’t been all smooth. Talking of his personal life, he was married to Serbian model-actor Natasa Stankovic for four years and they have a son named Agastya together. But their marriage couldn’t survive the test of time and they parted ways in 2024 amid much public scrutiny. Rumours swirled about flings, but nothing stuck publicly. That’s when Mahieka Sharma entered Hardik’s life sometime in 2025— and soon, their relationship went Instagram-official, sparking mixed fan reactions. Yet, Hardik insists it’s real: “I took some time in my life to figure out how to bring that out. That’s when Mahieka came into my life. We started talking about the sport and how to bring that child back. She helped me rediscover that excitement for the game that I always had.”What started as shared passion for cricket- Mahieka’s genuine cricket love— deepened their bond. Hardik, once a bowling obsessive, poured heart into batting. He confessed, “I have always had a lot of confidence in my bowling, but batting was something that was very close to my heart. After the last IPL, I realised that I really wanted to play to Hardik’s full potential. I think until now, I haven’t utilised more than 40 per cent of my batting potential.” Inspired, he trained like a beast: six-to-seven-hour sessions at the National Cricket Academy, grinding from 3:30 PM to midnight, often the last to leave under flickering lights.
Who is Mahieka Sharma?
Mahieka isn’t just an arm candy. She is a top model, actress, and certified yoga trainer. Crowned Model of the Year at the 2024 Indian Fashion Awards, she’s starred in music videos, short films, and photoshoots. Fans first spotted her cheering Hardik from the stands, fueling dating buzz. Now, a year strong, their vibe screams happy—yoga sessions fueling his fitness, cricket talks sharpening his edge.
Cricket, love, and Hardik’s next chapter
Hardik’s openness flips the narrative on athletes’ private lives. In India’s gossip-hungry culture, where post-divorce scrutiny is brutal (remember his IPL captaincy drama?), this feels refreshing. Mahieka’s role? Like a teammate spotting weaknesses, helping him become better in his game.
Pope making first papal visit to Algeria to launch Africa trip, honor St. Augustine
ROME — ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV is embarking Monday on the first-ever papal trip to Algeria, aiming to promote Christian-Muslim coexistence at a time of global conflict and honor the locally born inspiration of his religious spirituality, St. Augustine.
Leo’s two-day stop in Algeria opens an intense 11-day tour of four African nations — Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea — that will bring history’s first U.S.-born pope deep into the growing heart of the Catholic Church.
The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran cast a cloud over the trip, after President Donald Trump issued an extraordinary broadside against Leo on Sunday night, saying he should “stop catering to the Radical Left.” Leo had blasted the “delusion of omnipotence” fueling the war during a peace prayer service. It wasn’t clear if he would respond to Trump.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was set to greet Leo upon his arrival at Algiers’ international airport before they meet formally at the El Mouradia presidential palace.
Later Monday, Leo was to address Algerian authorities and visit the city’s Great Mosque. He was finishing the day with a gathering at the Our Lady of Africa basilica, and then prayers at a nearby monument for migrants killed in shipwrecks trying to reach Europe.
The gathering at the basilica, a Roman-Byzantine structure built in the late 1800s during France’s colonial rule, will feature testimony from a Catholic nun, a Pentecostal believer and Muslim, as well as remarks by the pope.
The official motto of the Algeria trip is Leo’s opening line wherever he goes — “Peace be with you” — and the Vatican says a general message of peace and Christian-Muslim coexistence will be the major theme.
In Algeria, a tiny Catholic community of around 9,000 people made up mostly of foreigners exists alongside the Sunni Muslim majority of about 47 million, according to Vatican statistics.
The archbishop of Algiers, French Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, said on any given day, nine out of 10 people who visit the basilica are Muslim.
“It’s wonderful to be able to show that we can be brothers and sisters together, building a society despite our different religions,” Vesco told The Associated Press on the eve of Leo’s arrival. “And that is what our church has been doing since this country gained independence.”
The United States, though, has placed Algeria on its special watch list for “having engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom.” The Algerian constitution recognizes “religions other than Islam” and allows individuals to practice their faith if they respect public order and rules.
But proselytizing to Muslims by non-Muslims is a crime, and some other Christian denominations have faced persecution from Algerian authorities, who have closed their churches.
“I imagine it’s a good thing that a pope is visiting Algeria,” said Selma Dénane, a student who lives in Annaba down the coast from Algiers. “But what will it change afterward? Will Christians be able to say, ‘I am a Christian’ without fear or stigmatization?’”
Three decades after declaring independence from France, Algeria fought a brutal civil war in the 1990s that is known locally as the “black decade,” when some 250,000 people were killed as the army fought an Islamist insurgency.
Among those killed were 19 Catholics, including seven Trappist monks from the Tibhirine monastery south of Algiers, who were kidnapped and killed in 1996 by Islamic fighters. Also among the 19 were two nuns from Leo’s Augustinian religious family.
On his first day in Algeria, Leo will pay homage to the 19 martyrs and visit the remaining Augustinian nuns who run a social services project out of the Algiers basilica that helps people of all faiths.
“They gave their lives for God, for Jesus, for the church, for the Algerian people because they didn’t want to leave the country, even in the difficult moments,” said Sister Lourdes Miguelez.
All 19 were beatified in 2018 as martyrs for the faith in what was then the first such beatification ceremony in the Muslim world.
Vesco, the Algiers archbishop, likes to remind audiences that Leo was elected on May 8, the Catholic feast day of the 19 martyrs. Immediately after Leo’s election, Vesco invited him to visit.
Leo has another connection to the Trappist monks: He has made a mantra out of one of the sayings of the martyred prior of the Tibherine monastery, Christian de Chergé, who spoke of an “unarmed and disarming peace.” Leo has cited the line starting from the night of his election.
“Obviously he will speak a lot about peace, it’s urgent and current,” Vesco said.
For Leo, the visit to Algeria is pastoral but also deeply personal. His Augustinian religious order was inspired by the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo, the 5th century theological and philosophical titan of the early Christian church who was born in what is today Algeria and spent all but five years of his life there.
On Tuesday, Leo will visit Annaba, the modern-day Hippo where St. Augustine was bishop for three decades, and will literally walk in the footsteps of the saint.
From his first public words as pope, Leo proclaimed himself a “son of St. Augustine,” and he has made that clear in his first year, repeatedly citing the church father in his speeches and homilies.
“I don’t know if I have seen a statement, a homily, an apostolic letter or exhortation that doesn’t reference Augustine,” said Paul Camacho, associate director of the Augustinian Institute at Villanova University, Leo’s Augustinian-run alma mater outside Philadelphia.
“The shadow that he casts on Western thought, not just the Roman Catholic Church but on Western thought more broadly, is very, very long indeed,” he said.
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Ouali and Santalucia reported from Algiers, Algeria.
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Deep-fried food banned in new plans for school dinners
“From talking to parents, head teachers and school governors in my constituency, I know that many are worried about the rising cost of food, and in many cases the current funding just isn’t enough, forcing schools to provide smaller portion sizes and poorer quality food,” she said.
Iran live updates: US blockade of Iran’s Strait of Hormuz ports to begin Monday
U.S. forces will begin a blockade of maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports Monday morning, according to U.S. Central Command.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, in accordance with the President’s proclamation,” according to a CENTCOM statement late Sunday afternoon.
Guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) sails in the Arabian Sea during Operation Epic Fury, on March 18, 2026.
U.S. Navy
“The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” the statement continued, adding that CENTCOM forces “will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”
President Donald Trump said Sunday morning in a post on his social media platform that the U.S. will “immediately” begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, following the failure of peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
Commercial mariners will be provided with additional information prior to the start of the blockade, according to CENTCOM, which also advised “all mariners” to monitor advisory broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces “when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches.”
Weir on World Cup dreams, coaching kids in Fife & Empire Biscuits
In September 2023, Weir ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament during a 1-1 draw with Belgium.
She missed a year of action but has gone on to become Real Madrid’s leading all-time goalscorer and has now amassed 116 caps for her country, taking over the captaincy in February.
Scotland have not been at a major tournament since 2019 and Weir is desperate to end that absence at the next edition of the World Cup in Brazil next year.
“It’s what I dreamed of as a kid, just to play for Scotland,” she says. And then to have the honour and the privilege of leading the team in this campaign, it’s a big responsibility, something I’m very proud of.
“I want nothing more this year than to qualify for that World Cup.
“The disappointment of the last couple of campaigns, it’s only a bigger driver for me, and not just me, but other players in the squad.
“There’s many experienced players that have been through the process before, but I think what’s good is we have a lot of fresh faces, young, talented, hungry players that also want to be at that World Cup.”
Another element to Weir’s trips home is work with the Pars Foundation, engaging and encouraging the next generation of footballers from Fife.
“It started with me coming back and going to coaching sessions, mainly for the girls’ set up and it’s just developed from there and I became an official ambassador,” she explains.
“It’s such a cool feeling because it wasn’t like that when I was their age.
“I’ve been so fortunate in my career and it all started at Pitreavie playing fields and coming to watch the guys at East End Park.
“Those memories are so vivid in my mind. To come back and see other girls kind of live that as well is so cool.
“This [latest] programme is for girls aged 13 to 14. And basically it’s all about developing transferable leadership skills that they can take into school, into sport, whatever it is they’re passionate about. Learning ways to communicate, trying to develop confidence, resilience.”
Caroline Weir was talking to BBC Radio Scotland’s Saturday Show.
Why Eric Swalwell was forced to quit California governor’s race after sexual misconduct allegations
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Eric Swalwell was so close to becoming California’s governor that he was practically measuring the drapes.
And then, suddenly, it all came crashing down, thanks to his own egregious conduct.
Last night, after desperately trying to hang on, Swalwell suspended his campaign. He was delusional if he thought he could keep running. He finally faced the inevitable music.
The Democratic congressman didn’t have much choice. His own party, led by Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Adam Schiff and Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, was demanding that he drop out of the race.
SWALWELL FACES EXPULSION EFFORT FOLLOWING BOMBSHELL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., has suspended his campaign for governor. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
He was denying many of the specifics when it came to sexually abusing women on his staff, but his candidacy was clearly toast. His campaign chairman immediately resigned. The state teachers’ union withdrew its support. The service employees’ union suspended its campaign activities.
In a video Friday night, Swalwell seemed to soften his denials:
“I do not suggest to you in any way that I’m perfect or that I’m a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife and to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position.”
Nobody’s buying that. When you’re a public figure with three children, it’s not just between you and your spouse. It’s also between you and the voters.
SWALWELL ATTORNEY DENIES MISCONDUCT, SAYS CONGRESSMAN TOOK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ‘LAPSES IN JUDGMENT’
Why, knowing of the intense scrutiny a gubernatorial candidate faces, would Swalwell allegedly engage in sex with staffers, given the stark power imbalance between a member of Congress and starstruck young women?
When Swalwell says all this emerged to torpedo his frontrunner campaign – “these allegations are false” – he is probably right. But he put the target on his own back.
Actually, a bandwagon running on four flat tires may be the least of the candidate’s problems. The Manhattan district attorney’s office confirms that it has opened an investigation into some of the allegations, and openly invited “survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations” to get in touch with its special victims unit.
What’s more, both House and campaign staffers for Swalwell gave news outlets an unsigned letter saying they’re “horrified” by the allegations, calling them “abhorrent, beneath the dignity of those serving in public office,” which “betrays the trust of all Californians.” And one Republican representative, Anna Paulina Luna, is pushing for the House to expel him.
The media have clearly been driving the disclosures about the congressman, who represents the San Francisco area. One of the other two major Democratic candidates – former congresswoman Katie Porter or billionaire Tom Steyer – will inherit the frontrunner’s mantle.
In California’s “jungle primary,” the top two finishers make it to the fall ballot, regardless of party. President Trump has already endorsed former British politician and Fox News host Steve Hilton. But in the bluest of blue states, the Democratic candidate is virtually assured of winning.
President Donald Trump endorsed Republican political commentator Steve Hilton for the Golden State’s governorship. (Getty Images)
The San Francisco Chronicle conducted a series of interviews with a woman who said Swalwell had assaulted her twice when she was too drunk to consent, including one encounter when he was her boss.
The woman did not report the alleged assaults because she didn’t think she’d be believed, according to the Chronicle, which viewed texts that she sent to a friend at the time, and medical records showing she sought pregnancy and STD testing days after the alleged 2024 assault.
CNN also reported on this woman, along with three others who accused Swalwell of various kinds of sexual misconduct. The woman was shown in shadow to protect her identity, and said she felt comfortable meeting Swalwell – after a 2019 drunken encounter – because she now had a partner and felt more confident:
“After that bar closed, we went to another, I went to the bathroom, and I don’t remember anything after that… I remember the next day, I can see flashes of that evening of him on top of me, me pushing him off, him grabbing me. It was a lot more aggressive. It was aggressive.”
“Did you say no?” asked anchor Pamela Brown.
“Yes. I said no. I said I — in my flash that I can recall, I was pushing him off of me saying no.”
What did he do?
“He didn’t stop.”
The unidentified woman said that in 2019, when she was still working for Swalwell, she woke up naked with him in a hotel room after a night of heavy drinking. She said she had no memory of what happened but could feel physically that they’d had sexual contact.
CNN reported that three other women said Swalwell sent them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.
The New York Times interviewed a social media influencer named in the CNN report, Ally Sammarco, who said the congressman sent her inappropriate messages on Snapchat in 2021. Snapchat content is programmed to disappear after a short period of time.
Sammarco, now 28, told the paper that Swalwell told her she was attractive and asked about alcohol.
“A lot of it was like photos of him going on trips, on airplanes, in hotels, him laying in bed, and then like things like, ‘What would you do if I was, like, with you’ or, like, ‘Wish you were here,’” Sammarco told the paper, adding that he also sent an unsolicited photo of his penis.
PELOSI, CALIFORNIA DEMS SLAM SWALWELL OVER BOMBSHELL SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS: ‘INDEFENSIBLE’
“It made me feel gross and uncomfortable. I didn’t ask for that,” Sammarco is quoted as saying. While posting pictures of the birth of his third baby, she says, he was messaging her: “When am I going to see you?”
Sammarco says she finally stopped responding after realizing the congressman wasn’t going to help her find a job.
Politico, meanwhile, reports that a former Swalwell employee, upon leaving his office, signed an agreement that required confidentiality and non-disparagement. This was related to workplace discrimination, not sexual harassment. A spokesman had denied that the office had used any NDAs.
A Swalwell attorney sent letters to two of the women cited by CNN, demanding they retract their statements or face possible legal action.
These letters said the women’s claims were “undermined” by their “voluntary and cooperative relationship with Mr. Swalwell over the course of many years,” including the former staffer asking him for job references.
I guess those letters are now moot. You think?
Eric Swalwell has categorically denied the allegations. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)
Had the allegations been made by just one woman, it would have been easier for the candidate to dismiss. It’s not like sexual accusations haven’t been made against Trump and the term-limited governor and 2028 contender Gavin Newsom, which he has admitted.
Even a close personal friend of Swalwell, Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego, pulled his endorsement, calling the conduct “indefensible.”
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Eric Swalwell showed no sensitivity to the intimidation factor involving young female staffers. The overall pattern, according to their allegations, is the same.
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It’s hardly surprising that his party wanted Swalwell immediately booted from the race. Instead of heading to Sacramento, he wiped out his political career.