Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has denied a report that emerged Friday afternoon accusing him of sexual misconduct, a story that has been teased for days as the race for California governor heats up.

Swalwell threatened legal action and sent a cease-and-desist letter late Thursday, but it didn’t stop the San Francisco Chronicle from reporting on a former staffer’s complaint. A staffer who spent nearly two years working for Swalwell claimed she had a sexual relationship with him while he was her supervisor, and she accused him of twice assaulting her when she was too intoxicated to give consent.