Fifth Woman Accuses Eric Swalwell of Sexual Misconduct
Rona Drews has come forward with accusations against former Congressman Eric Swalwell, alleging that he drugged and assaulted her. FOX News contributor Jonathan Turley discussed how Swalwell’s political supporters have shielded him from the consequences of such accusations.
Meanwhile, attempts by Senate Democrats to defund and dismantle a monument honoring a well-known labor leader have been thwarted. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced a bill aiming to cut funding for the memorial dedicated to United Farm Workers co-founder Cesar Chavez, situated in California on what was once his residence and the birthplace of the labor movement.
Chavez, once a celebrated figure among Democrats, has faced severe allegations of sexual misconduct, including accusations of molestation and grooming minors, as reported in a New York Times article published in March. Many of his alleged victims remained silent even after his passing.
Senator Gallego mentioned that the rumors circulating in Washington about his long-standing friendship with Swalwell have perhaps influenced his perspective on the situation.
Senator Cornyn expressed his disgust, stating, “Due to Senator Heinrich’s appalling actions, the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, which is essentially a crime scene for many of Chavez’s alleged abuses, will keep running in the interests of the public, which is quite upsetting.”
Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) blocked Cornyn’s bill, acknowledging the allegations against Chavez on the Senate floor. He remarked that these claims significantly alter Chavez’s legacy and how he should be remembered.
While Heinrich concurred that a monument in Chavez’s name might not be appropriate, he cautioned that its removal could obscure the narratives of farm workers and neglect the more violent aspects of Chavez’s history. “When we uncover disturbing truths about our past, the right response is to be honest and transparent,” Heinrich stated. “My concern with the proposal from Texas is that it might actually conceal the reality of Chavez and the remarkable farm worker movement.”
On the same day of these discussions, two House representatives, Swalwell and Tony Gonzalez (R-Texas), chose to resign amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Cornyn’s proposal is part of a broader initiative to erase Chavez’s name from certain acknowledgments of his legacy, which the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has already voted on.
“It’s quite astonishing to think anyone would want to name a national monument after Cesar Chavez at the very site where he allegedly committed assaults against women and children,” Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) commented. “Democrats ought to be embarrassed.”
The proposed legislation aims to dismantle the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, which was established by President Barack Obama in 2012 to commemorate the late labor activist, by mandating the sale of the federal land it occupies.
This would mean selling the premises of Chavez’s home and office, where the alleged abuse reportedly occurred. The bill also earmarks federal funds that would have gone to the memorial for forensic crime scene analysis and addressing untested rape kits—a measure that Cornyn had collaborated with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to renew in 2024.
