Eric Swalwell threatens to sue Pamela Price over alleged defamation

(KRON) -- Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) threatened to sue Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price on Thursday over alleged defamation, lawyers representing Swalwell said.

Swalwell previously announced his support for the campaign to recall Price. He alleges that Price made false and malicious statements in response to his endorsement.

Price said Swalwell wanted her out to “shield himself from unethical practices” from when he worked as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County.

“These statements from Price are deliberate, malicious, and not true,” said Swalwell. “They are clearly in retaliation for my support of the recall. I won’t be intimidated by her nor will I allow her to try to damage my personal and professional reputation.”

According to Swalwell, Price further said that the congressman had once endorsed the death penalty, which he says is not true. According to Politico, Swalwell supports abolishing the death penalty.

Swalwell sent Price a letter last week, asking her to retract the statements that he claims are false. She did not respond to the letter, and he is now asking her to retract her statements or provide evidence for what she said.

"The failure to do so will be telling indeed and confirm that there were no factual bases for this deliberate campaign of disparagement of a highly respected public official and former Assistant District Attorney," lawyers said.

If no retraction is issued, Swalwell and his team say they "will be forced to move forward with next steps."

The letter put out by attorneys on Thursday is the latest drama surrounding Price. Former Alameda County DA Nancy O'Malley said Wednesday that she supports recalling Price, setting off a back-and-forth war of words between the two prosecutors.

KRON4 reached out to Price's office for comment on the matter.