Eric Swalwell, once seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, has faced serious allegations of sexual misconduct that threaten to derail his career after 13 years in Congress.
His ascent was aided significantly by influential figures like Representative Nancy Pelosi, who helped him secure crucial positions on congressional committees. Swalwell became a prominent Democrat opposing the Trump administration.
Currently, five women have accused him of sexual misconduct, which includes allegations of sending inappropriate messages and unwanted physical contact. Disturbingly, two women have accused him of rape, with the most shocking claim being that he allegedly drugged and raped a model in a hotel room in 2018.
In response to the allegations, Swalwell has stated he will fight against what he calls “false” claims. However, he put his gubernatorial campaign on hold last Sunday and formally resigned from the Legislature on Tuesday, likely due to losing support from his allies.
Former House Speaker Pelosi, who was among the first to inform Swalwell that he should resign, indicated that addressing the accusations was better handled away from the gubernatorial race.
There are growing concerns about whether Swalwell’s long-time friends and allies were truly unaware of his alleged misconduct.
Pelosi, a powerful figure in California politics, notably brought Swalwell into greater prominence when she appointed him to influential roles. In 2014, she selected him for the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, considering him an “energetic and positive leader.” Later, in 2016, she elevated him further within the Democratic structure.
Despite warnings regarding Swalwell from an FBI briefing in 2020 that linked him to a suspected Chinese spy, Pelosi publicly stated at that time that she had “no concerns about Mr. Swalwell.”
After that meeting, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy urged Pelosi to remove Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee, a request she dismissed, even reappointing him to the House Homeland Security Committee in 2021.
Swalwell also held positions on the Intelligence Committee and the House Judiciary Committee during Pelosi’s tenure as Speaker.
One significant moment in Swalwell’s career was his role as a manager during the second impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in 2021. This solidified his anti-Trump stance, which helped him gain traction in his current gubernatorial bid.
Despite these close ties, Pelosi denied having any knowledge of Swalwell’s alleged behavior when asked about it on Monday.
“I had nothing,” Pelosi stated.
Though she called Swalwell’s resignation a “wise decision,” she didn’t clarify if she had advised him to step down from Congress as well.
“I think that was his decision,” she remarked. “It’s the right thing to do. Instead of forcing a vote on something like that, it’s better for them to handle their own family matters privately.”
