The tendency in network news is often to amplify scandals involving Republicans while downplaying issues surrounding Democrats. It’s curious how a Democratic figure can be pushed out after a scandal, only for the story to quickly be forgotten.
This scenario unfolded recently with Congressman Eric Swalwell, a Democratic contender in California’s gubernatorial race. On April 10, CNN reported sexual harassment allegations made by four women. By the following Sunday, Swalwell had stepped back from his campaign, and by Monday night, he had resigned from Congress. In just a couple of news cycles, he was out, and soon after, it seemed the network lost interest.
The Washington Free Beacon noted that these allegations had surfaced on April 6, which made the four-day silence from the networks seem unsurprising. Internal dynamics within the Democratic Party were shifting; opinion polls suggested that two Republican candidates might dominate the election, prompting a need to narrow the Democratic field.
On Saturday, CBS anchor Kelly O’Grady reported that Swalwell faced increasing pressure to abandon his gubernatorial ambitions amid these serious accusations. Despite this buildup, the coverage was surprisingly brief, only capturing the bombshell news with a handful of characters late in the broadcast.
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On Sunday, conversations on various news shows turned ambiguous regarding Swalwell’s situation. ABC’s “This Week” host Jonathan Karl referred vaguely to “allegations of serious sexual misconduct.” The CBS program “Face the Nation” didn’t even touch on the scandal.
Later that evening, CBS reported that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for Swalwell’s resignation, while all 21 Democrats originally backing his campaign had withdrawn their support. The environment among female staffers at the Capitol seemed to amplify the unresolved nature of the allegations, which had simmered for days before breaking onto television screens. By then, Swalwell’s fate already felt sealed.
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On Monday’s “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg appeared to be the only voice expressing disapproval of Swalwell’s quick ouster, emphasizing that he denied the allegations and questioned why he should resign ahead of other political figures. She argued that there was inconsistency around accountability.
Interestingly, when Swalwell’s career spiraled, comedic commentary on late-night shows was noticeably absent. This was particularly unexpected from Jimmy Kimmel, who had previously hosted Swalwell and embraced him as a protector. The tone shifted this week, with Kimmel only making a passing reference to Swalwell’s resignation while joking about another politician.
The Washington Post opined about the rapid downfall of Swalwell, pointing out that many were puzzled by how someone with persistent rumors about misconduct could advance in a party that champions women’s rights. This raised questions of potential bias in the media’s coverage.
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Another interesting twist: Democrats close to Swalwell, including Nancy Pelosi and Senator Ruben Gallego, professed ignorance about his alleged behavior until it was too late. These denials suggest a reluctance among media outlets to pursue aggressive investigations for fear of upsetting powerful figures.
In 2020, reporter Bethany Allen mentioned having heard about Swalwell’s conduct but chose not to report it, feeling it fell outside her scope. When conservatives highlighted the issue, she critiqued the media for what she saw as a failure to expose wrongdoings of Democrats.
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Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo remarked how a Politico journalist had been working to validate rumors about Swalwell during his brief presidential run prior to his withdrawal. Trujillo noted that the momentum to remove Swalwell had dissipated.
There’s a notable distinction between unverified rumors of misconduct and confirmed allegations. Yet, one could argue that broadcast media has previously spread unfounded claims about conservative figures without adequate verification. The burden of proof appears more lenient when it comes to the right. Ironically, one of the loudest proponents of the allegations against Brett Kavanaugh was Eric Swalwell himself.
