Tag: eric swalwell

Blue Double Standards: California’s Swalwell Case

Media outlets across the country lit up in mid-April with the same jaw-dropping headline: California’s top Democratic contender for governor had just been forced out of the race over explosive sexual misconduct accusations.

In a matter of hours, Rep. Eric Swalwell lost every major endorsement, watched his campaign collapse, and was effectively tossed into the political dumpster.

On the surface it looked like another MeToo reckoning in a party that loves to lecture the rest of us about women’s rights. But scratch the surface, and the real story is far uglier – a textbook case of Blue double standards.

California’s 2026 gubernatorial race was already shaping up as a nightmare for Democrats.

Golden State voters are fed up with years of progressive experiments that delivered sky-high taxes, rampant homelessness, and a cost-of-living crisis that’s driving families out.

For the first time since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011, Republicans have a genuine shot at flipping the state red.

Recent polls told the tale. Conservative TV host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco were trading the top spots with support in the 14-17 percent range.

Democrats were scattered behind them, with Swalwell – until the scandal hit – polling as the strongest in the fragmented Blue field.

Don’t forget California’s peculiar “jungle” primary system. All candidates run on one ballot in June. The top two vote-getters – regardless of party – advance to November.

That means the general election could feature two Republicans, two Democrats, or one of each. With the Democratic vote split among a half-dozen hopefuls, the math was already terrifying for the party of Gavin Newsom. A strong Republican showing could lock them out entirely.

Then came the bombshell. In the first week of April, detailed allegations of sexual assault and misconduct poured out – including claims from a former staffer who said Swalwell assaulted her in a New York hotel room.

More women came forward with stories of inappropriate messages, unwanted advances, and worse. Within days Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial bid and later resigned from Congress.

Democratic leaders raced to distance themselves. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for him to drop out. Nancy Pelosi said the allegations should be handled “outside of a gubernatorial campaign.”

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Here’s Who Donated to Eric Swalwell’s Now-Dead CA Gubernatorial Campaign

Former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) had a long list of top donors for his unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign, which was derailed by multiple women’s allegations of rape and sexual misconduct. In less than three days, his career was essentially over. The allegations intensified last weekend, when on Sunday, he announced his withdrawal from the gubernatorial race, in which he was the frontrunner. By Tuesday, he officially resigned, just hours after another woman came forward claiming that the former congressman had raped her in 2018.

The New York Post compiled a list of donors to this man, whose known creepiness was widely recognized in Democratic and journalistic circles. He was an attack dog against the Trump administration and served a purpose that earned him protection. But once he ran for office and faced scrutiny, that protection evaporated, especially when rape is involved.

From Hollywood heavyweights to corporate titans and everyday Californians, Eric Swalwell’s donor list spans the elite to average joes.

The California Post reviewed public records and identified more than 1,700 contributors to the disgraced politician’s campaign, with donations ranging from $100 to more than $78,000.

[…]

The Post’s review of Swalwell’s campaign records shows that the ex-congressman was able to raise more than $7.3 million from about 1,700 different contributors.

Swalwell courted big money from Hollywood A-listers and special interests to bankroll his campaign, but his fake squeaky clean image also managed to fool hundreds of working-class people who forked over their hard-earned money.

[…]

Swalwell’s most prominent backers included Hollywood A-listers like Robert De Niro and Jon Hamm — both of whom gave $10,000 — while Sean Penn gave $15,000. Others who plunked down thousands of dollars believing the hype included the late actor and director Rob Reiner ($10K), actors Jon Cryer ($10K) and Ed Helms ($5K), and Bryan Lourd, CEO of Creative Artists Agency ($12,500).

[…]

Money also poured in from businessmen such as venture capitalist Bradley Tusk ($39,200) and Jon Henes ($5K), CEO of C Street Advisory Group, while Elizabeth Naftali ($39K) — a Los Angeles philanthropist and major Democratic donor — funded Swalwell’s campaign along with longtime San Francisco attorney and AI advisor Karen Silverman ($10K).

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MEDIA MALPRACTICE: Liberal Outlet Politico Reportedly Had the Swalwell Story in 2019 But Dropped it When He Ended His Presidential Run

One thing that everyone seems to agree on is that the Swalwell scandal was one of those ‘open secrets; in Washington that everyone knew about but no one mentioned in polite company. If you’re a Democrat, people will do that as long as you are helpful to the cause.

One of the things everyone is trying to figure out now is exactly who knew what and when. Democrat politicians are denying it across the board but now there is a media wrinkle in the story.

According to at least one Democrat operative, the liberal outlet Politico had the goods on Swalwell back in 2019 but they dropped the story when he ended his presidential campaign.

The entire text of the tweet below reads:

One note on the Swalwell stuff – (this isn’t confirmed) but a reporter with Politico was working on verifying the rumors on Swalwell when he was running for President. (he’s no longer with the publication) Two days before he was scheduled to sit down with this reporter Swalwell dropped out of the race. The energy disappeared to potentially take him out, the victims if they were even willing to go on the record never did. He slithered back to his safe house seat. December 2025 was too early to take down Swalwell we had to wait til his paperwork was ALL IN running for governor March 2026, so the head of the snake could be chopped off and he had no safe house seat to slither back to this time. Hate the strategy fine, but for folks unsure if this would work, we had to make sure he couldn’t get away like he did in 2020.

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Nancy Pelosi Had the Dirt on Eric Swalwell and Used It Like a Pro: Josh Hawley

Sen. Josh Hawley discussed concerns about congressional leadership and accountability during a conversation with Fox News host Jesse Watters, focusing on past intelligence briefings, internal party dynamics, and a new legislative proposal targeting pensions for convicted lawmakers.

Hawley said he believes former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was aware of concerns involving Rep. Eric Swalwell prior to recent developments, referencing a prior FBI briefing.

“I don’t have any doubt about it, Jesse, because he had become a liability,” Hawley said.

He said Pelosi had been informed about potential risks tied to Swalwell as early as 2020.

“And you pointed out she knew all about this,” Hawley said. “She was briefed by the FBI back in 2020 that the guy was a target of a Chinese spy, Fang Fang.”

Hawley also referenced the broader situation involving the alleged spy.

“And by the way, Fang Fang probably got a medal of commendation,” he said. “That’s like the worst espionage assignment in the history of the world.”

He said the situation created political risks for party leadership.

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Eric Swalwell’s Own ‘It’ll All Come Out’ Slogan Comes Back to Bite Him in the Worst Way

Rep. Eric Swalwell outlined a proposed campaign message for Democrats in 2025 that he said would focus on accountability for companies and individuals who have engaged in business dealings with President Donald Trump.

Swalwell described the idea as part of a broader strategy aimed at signaling how Democrats would approach oversight if they regain congressional authority, particularly the ability to issue subpoenas.

“I suggested to our leadership, and it’s been well received that we need to have a campaign called We won’t forget it, or it will all come out,” Swalwell said.

He said the messaging would be directed toward a wide range of entities, including corporations and institutions that have entered into agreements involving Trump.

“That’s the message that we send to the colleges, to the law firms, to the entertainment giants, all these companies and individuals who have done these drug deals with Donald Trump,” Swalwell said.

Swalwell indicated that the proposed campaign would emphasize the use of investigative tools available to Congress.

“We need to make it clear as a Democratic caucus that when we have the subpoena power, it’ll all come out,” he said.

He also addressed what he described as the expectations of those engaging in such deals, arguing that some may believe they will not face consequences.

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The Mystery Sweeping D.C.: Who Executed the Political Hitjob That Destroyed Eric Swalwell?

The same eagle-eyed journalists who were gobsmacked — gobsmacked, I say! — to discover that Joe Biden’s brain was AWOL are now feigning disbelief over the Eric Swalwell sexual assault allegations. Who knew this young, promising, handsome politician, who was elected to Congress in his early 30s and was poised to become California’s next governor, had such a dark side?

Well, apparently everyone:

If true, it sets a peculiar timeline: Swalwell joined Congress in 2013. For over a dozen years, he was a powerful member of the political elite. A popular presence on cable TV shows, Swalwell always made time for the mainstream media. (Even after eating bean burritos. Yes, that actually happened.) 

Normally, politicians who play ball with the media get better coverage than those who don’t. It’s one of the unspoken agreements between press and politicians: You scratch our back and we’ll scratch yours.

Most of the time, it’s a win-win arrangement: Each side gets something they want.

Swalwell’s lust for power wasn’t a secret. We’re talking about a guy who ran for president when he was just 38, so everyone knew he was using his congressional seat as a launching pad for something bigger.

Of course he ran for governor of California! Duh! It was there for the taking!

And truth be told, he was doing pretty well. According to most polls, he was one of the leading Democratic gubernatorial candidates. Most insiders assumed the Dems would eventually consolidate around a candidate to prevent the GOP from claiming the top two spots in the “jungle primary,” and Swalwell was zooming along in pole position.

Had the scandal not broken, he’d probably be California’s next governor.

Then, seemingly overnight, a series of shocking — and horrifying — sexual assault allegations were reported in the press, one right after the other. Rep. Swalwell, who had long claimed to champion the plight of abused women, was unmasked as an (alleged) serial rapist and sexual predator.

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Another Swalwell Accuser Comes Forward, Speaks at Press Conference – Claims Swalwell Drugged Her Drink and Violently Raped Her

Another Swalwell accuser came forward and spoke at press conference in Beverly Hills on Tuesday morning.

The 5th Swalwell accuser to come forward, Lonna Drews, is represented by attorney Lisa Bloom.

“I represent a brave Eric Swalwell accuser. Her disturbing story is forthcoming. We call upon him to resign from Congress and the governor’s race, and we will cooperate with authorities in their investigation,” Lisa Bloom (Gloria Allred’s daughter) said on Monday evening before the press conference.

Lisa Bloom also disclosed that three other women have contacted her in the last 24 hours with accusations against Eric Swalwell.

Lonna Drews recounted how Eric Swalwell drugged and raped her in 2018 and choked her to the point of unconsciousness in a West Hollywood hotel room.

“In 2018, while I was living and working as a model in Beverly Hills, and I also owned a fashion software company, I had contact with Eric Swalwell on three separate occasions,” the alleged sexual assault victim, Lonna Drews, said.

“I knew he was married at the time and that his wife was pregnant. He was my friend. On the third occasion, I believe he drugged my drink,” she said.

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Everyone Knew Eric Swalwell Had a ‘Women and Whiskey’ Problem: The View’s Alyssa Farah Griffin


“The View” co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin said Monday that Rep. Eric Swalwell’s past conduct with women was widely known and created potential national security concerns, as the California Democrat suspended his campaign for governor following allegations of sexual assault and other reported misconduct.

Swalwell, who represents California in Congress, announced he was stepping back from his gubernatorial bid after facing accusations that include sexual assault, as well as multiple reports alleging inappropriate behavior involving women.

He has acknowledged what he described as “mistakes in judgment” but has denied the sexual assault allegations.

Griffin, who recently returned to “The View” following maternity leave, addressed the situation during the program, pointing to reports that the allegations did not come as a surprise to some observers.

“Swalwell sat on the intel committee, and there were allegations he had a suspected Chinese spy, Fang Fang, who was associated with him in his office,” Griffin said.

“Now, he was not found to have engaged in wrongdoing, but to me, my spidey senses from having worked at the Pentagon go off, which is it was an open secret that he had issues with women, that he was somebody who was susceptible, potentially to heavy drinking, to impropriety with women.”

Griffin said that such allegations should be considered disqualifying for public office and argued that political considerations should not outweigh concerns about conduct.

“I think we need to remember that winning isn’t everything, and you lose the plot when you think that,” Griffin said.

“When somebody does something that’s beyond the pale, that should be it, and we should move on and get back to that kind of society.”

She also referenced the seriousness of the claims made against Swalwell, noting their public visibility.

“I think of the victims. These allegations are horrible. They’re well-documented. This is, I mean, deeply reported,” she added.

Griffin further argued that the implications extend beyond the individuals involved, stating that reputational concerns tied to repeated allegations could pose broader risks.

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‘Rapists should be hung’ – US lawmaker

A Republican member of US House of Representatives has called for rapists to be hanged, but insisted he wasn’t talking about fellow Congressmen who resigned over allegations of sexual misconduct.

Democrat Eric Swalwell and Republican Tony Gonzalez announced on Monday they will step down from Congress following reported accusations by former staffers.

“Rapists should be hung, period. No questions,” Andy Ogles told influencer Benny Johnson when asked about the allegations against Swalwell, insisting, however, that he wasn’t talking about the California Democrat.

“I don’t want the Secret Service to come, I’m not talking about Eric Swalwell, I’m not threatening a member of Congress,” he added.

Last week, media reports detailed accusations of sexual assault by a former aide against Swalwell and cited three women who accused the lawmaker of separate instances of sexual misconduct. Swalwell, first elected to Congress in 2013, denied the allegations, claiming they were part of an effort to derail his campaign.

“They are absolutely false. They did not happen,” Swalwell said in a video on X on Friday, posting later that he was “deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.”

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Democrat Senator Ruben Gallego Throws “Best Friend” Swalwell Under the Bus, Denies He Is in Viral Video of Swalwell and Sex Worker

Senator Ruben Gallego turned on his good friend Eric Swalwell after initially defending him on social media.

On Monday, Gallego began to distance himself from Swalwell shortly before the California Democrat announced his resignation from Congress amid allegations of sexual assault.

“I want to be clear: I had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell,” Gallego said ahead of Swalwell’s resignation.

“I trusted someone who I believed was a friend, but it is now clear that he is not the person I thought I knew,” he added.

On Tuesday, after a fifth Swalwell accuser came forward at a press conference in Beverly Hills and accused the California Democrat of violently raping her at a West Hollywood hotel in 2018, Gallego threw Swalwell under the buss

“Eric Swalwell lied to all of us. He lies to the most powerful people in this country. And they trusted him,” Gallego told reporters.

“They trusted him with the most sensitive spots in our government. Whether it was a Judiciary Committee, Intel Committee, or impeaching Donald Trump,” he said.

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