Swalwell Seeking Legal Action Against Stark For Accusations

Since Rep. Pete Stark claimed in a  that his rival Eric Swalwell took bribes while on the Dublin City Council, the Swalwell campaign has demanded proof of the accusation.

They haven't received any. Now Swalwell is taking Stark to court.

Swalwell, who is a lawyer himself with Alameda District Attorney's office, has retained attorney James Wagstaffe of Kerr & Wagstaffe LLP. The Swalwell campaign said Tuesday that Wagstaffe will send Stark a letter asking for a retraction or face legal action for defamation.

“My latest FEC filing is public as well as my Form 700s that contain information about my personal finances since being elected to the Dublin City Council," said Swalwell. "Again, there is no proof to these outrageous and untrue allegations.” 

Stark's accusation that Swalwell took bribes in connection with a controversial housing situation that came before the Dublin City Council last year, has become the main talking point of the campaign between the two democrats and conservative Chris Pareja in the newly formed 15th Congressional District.

On Wednesday, the San Francsico Chronicle published an article, which said, "...even Democratic Party loyalists suggest the 20-term congressman may have crossed a line with his recent shocking, and unsubstantiated, charges of bribery against an Alameda County prosecutor who is challenging Stark's re-election bid."

The three-man race will be cut to two after the primary election in June, with the top two finishers, no matter the political party, competing in the general election.