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Eric Swalwell, once celebrated as a rising star within the Democratic Party, now faces serious allegations that cast a shadow over his 13-year congressional career. Known for his rapid ascent to influential roles in Washington, Swalwell benefited from the support of powerful figures, such as Nancy Pelosi, which helped him secure key committee appointments and establish himself as a vocal critic of the Trump administration.
However, Swalwell’s promising career has taken a dramatic turn. He is now confronted with accusations from five women alleging sexual misconduct, including inappropriate behavior like sending explicit photos and unwanted physical contact. Among these allegations, two women have accused him of rape, with one of the claims suggesting that Swalwell drugged and assaulted a model in a hotel room in 2018.
Swalwell has labeled these charges as “false” and has vowed to contest them. Despite his assertions, the repercussions have been swift. Following the mounting pressure and as political allies began to withdraw their support, Swalwell decided to suspend his gubernatorial campaign on Sunday and subsequently resigned from Congress on Tuesday.
One of the critical voices urging Swalwell to step down was former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She was among the first to advise him to exit the race, emphasizing that addressing these allegations would be more appropriately handled outside the context of a gubernatorial campaign.
One of those crucial allies was former House Speaker Pelosi, who was one of the first political figures to tell Swalwell to drop out, saying the handling of accusations was “best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.”
Questions are swirling, however, over whether the disgraced congressman’s friends and allies were unaware of Swalwell’s alleged actions despite knowing him for so long.
Pelosi, a powerhouse in California politics, plucked out Swalwell for many plum spots when she was speaker.
In 2014, Pelosi put a relatively new Swalwell on the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee, which shapes key policies for House Democrats and are de facto members of senior leadership. She then described him as “an energetic and forward-looking leader who will bring fresh ideas and perspectives.”
Then in 2016, as minority leader, she elevated him further on the steering committee, making him vice-chair.
Pelosi was warned about potential concerns around Swalwell. In 2020, a briefing by the FBI flagged connections between Swalwell and a suspected Chinese spy. Still, Pelosi said then that “I don’t have any concern about Mr. Swalwell.”
Then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) urged Pelosi to remove Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee after the briefing. Pelosi didn’t heed those warnings, and in 2021, she re-appointed Swalwell to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
He was also serving on the intelligence committee and House Judiciary Committee under Pelosi’s leadership.
One of her more prominent decisions involving Swalwell was making him the manager in President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021. That allowed him to burnish an anti-Trump reputation, which later buoyed his gubernatorial campaign this year.
Despite all those connections, Pelosi at a Monday event denied knowing any of Swalwell’s alleged pursuits of women.
“I had none whatsoever,” Pelosi said.
She called the resignation “a smart decision” but didn’t directly answer if she told Swalwell to also resign from Congress.
“I think that was his decision,” she responded. “That’s the right thing to do, yes, not to subject members to have to take a vote on something like that, and not to subject your family.”