Dems race to distance themselves from Swalwell amid allegations of rape, assault

The mounting accusations of sexual misconduct against Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) have sparked a reckoning of sorts among his Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill, who are now racing to distance themselves from a figure who went, in the course of one weekend, from rising political star to toxic poster boy of #MeToo infamy.

Swalwell had risen to great prominence during his 13 years in Congress, winning a spot in Democratic leadership, helping his party steer the second impeachment of President Trump and forging a close alliance with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the pioneering power broker who helped to nurture his ascent.

Along the way, Swalwell launched a run at the White House and, more recently, was a leading contender to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in Sacramento. Democrats lined up to endorse his campaign.

But that was last week.

Faced with explosive accusations of sexual assault and other improprieties with young women who are not his wife — allegations aired in a series of blistering reports published by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN on Friday — Swalwell dropped out of the gubernatorial race and announced his resignation from Congress, all within a 24-hour span.

Swalwell has denied all allegations of wrongdoing. But his stunning implosion has sent shock waves through the Capitol, where Democrats — who are hoping to use an anti-corruption message against Trump and Republicans in November’s midterms — are taking pains to detach themselves from the gregarious lawmaker many have known for years. 

Some are going out of their way to deny any direct knowledge of Swalwell’s alleged philandering, let alone the possibility that he might have assaulted staffers or anyone else. But they’re also sending a clear message that they believe the women who are coming forward, not Swalwell’s claims of innocence.

“This man lived a double life. He lied to us. He lied to his family. He lied to his constituents,” Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) told reporters Tuesday in the Capitol. “I was manipulated, I was lied to, and everyone else was, too.”

Gallego, more than most, was in a position to observe Swalwell’s conduct. The two served for years together in the House, where they became close friends. Gallego served as the campaign chair for Swalwell’s failed 2020 presidential bid, and their families spent a great deal of time together outside of Capitol Hill. They also went to bars around Washington, sometimes joined by reporters. 

The Arizona senator acknowledged that he’d heard “rumors” about Swalwell “for many years.” But he claims not to have seen evidence of wrongdoing himself.  

“My family … was with him all the time, with his wife, with his kids,” Gallego said. “And we saw a different side of Eric.”

Pelosi also grew close to Swalwell during his years in Congress. She had dismissed earlier accusations that he had an affair with a Chinese spy, and she elevated Swalwell to the top of the Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee even as GOP leaders were booting him off the House Intelligence Committee. And she later tapped him as a manager of Trump’s second impeachment, which followed the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

But Pelosi has also been a longtime champion of women’s empowerment and was an enthusiastic supporter of those who came forward during the #MeToo movement with tales of abuse at the hands of powerful men. 

When the allegations against Swalwell emerged last week, she was among the Democratic leaders who quickly urged him to abandon the gubernatorial race. More recently, Pelosi appeared dejected that a protege could find himself in such hot water. She said she was blindsided by the accusations and denied any suggestion that Democrats had disregarded warning signs that Swalwell might have been preying on young women.

“No, that’s not true. That is absolutely positively [not true],” she said Monday night during an event at George Washington University in Washington. 

Pressed on whether she had any hint of controversy swirling around Swalwell, Pelosi distanced herself once more.  

“I had none whatsoever,” she said.

Democrats are not the only ones grappling with a sex scandal in their midst. Swalwell’s decision to bow out of Congress was followed closely by a similar resignation promise from Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican who has acknowledged an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by setting herself on fire.

Still, the Democrats are the party that’s claimed the mantle of women’s rights and #MeToo empowerment, putting the accusations against Swalwell under a much brighter light. Faced with the decision of whether to side with Swalwell or the accusers, many Democrats said the choice was easy.

“We need to send a strong message that we are going to stand with the women who have the courage to come out and break the silence about how they’re being mistreated, abused, used and forced to have sex,” said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), the head of the Democratic Women’s Caucus who was leading the charge to expel both Swalwell and Gonzales before their resignation announcements. 

“That’s not easy to do,” she added, “and men have relied on the silence of women to avoid accountability for too long. It’s time for accountability.”

Swalwell, for his part, has maintained his innocence throughout the saga. And on Tuesday — after a fifth woman emerged with new accusations that he had drugged, raped and strangled her in a California hotel room in 2018 — an attorney for the embattled lawmaker issued another statement denying those and all other allegations.

“Congressman Eric Swalwell categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him,” wrote Sara Azari, a Los Angeles-based attorney, on behalf of Swalwell. 

“These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive — a calculated and transparent political hit job designed to destroy the reputation of a man who has spent twenty years in public service,” added Azari, who is a contributing legal analyst for NewsNation, The Hill’s broadcast partner in Washington.

The ultimate verdict may be decided in the courtroom. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has launched a criminal investigation into Swalwell’s conduct, and prosecutors in California are likely to follow suit in the wake of Tuesday’s new accusations.

Meanwhile, Democrats like Gallego say the days of friendly relations with Swalwell are over, not least because he doesn’t believe Swalwell’s version of events.

“When there were rumors going around a couple of weeks ago … I did ask him, and he lied to me,” Gallego said Tuesday. “He knew that I just came off of a very, very hard campaign for two years where they lied about me and my family. He manipulated me to have the same sentiment that I was having back [then] and use that as an opportunity to move me to defend him.

“I let him into my circle, and I trusted my family with him, and I deeply regret it.”

Sudiksha Kochi contributed.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Bessent says order requiring banks to collect citizenship information ‘in ...

Rogan cracks up over Trump’s explanation of AI Jesus image

Former Biden official says Trump’s blockade ‘might be helpful’ in ...

GOP senators grow uncomfortable with Trump rhetoric, endgame for Iran

TMZ launches DC bureau, tracks down Graham, Cruz on first day

Senate GOP divided over Viktor Orbán's loss in Hungary

Vermont’s return-to-office blunder is costing the state millions

Senate GOP divided over Trump push for Iran war funding

Trump denies AI Jesus post was removed due to conservative backlash

Spanberger signs bill ending tax breaks for Confederate groups

Chinese tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz, testing Trump’s blockade

Miller on Swalwell: Dems have ‘blackmail files’ for when it suits them

Cook Political Report shifts 4 Senate races toward Democrats

A lawsuit against a Black Lives Matter activist could chill all of our speech

Cases of drug-resistant infection that causes diarrhea are rising: What to know

Swalwell, Gonzales exits shift spotlight to other embattled lawmakers

Anthropic’s Mythos puts DC, Wall Street on high alert

GOP faces rising political tides on Iran, affordability in midterm year

© The Hill