Sen. Ruben Gallego, one of Rep. Eric Swalwell’s closest associates in Congress, insisted at an emotional information convention Tuesday that he had been lied to and manipulated by a person with whom he had a detailed private {and professional} relationship.
But Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, acknowledged to NCS that he had heard “rumors” over time of Swalwell being “flirty” — and that he ought to have confronted him about these rumors once they first got here to mild. He stated he selected to not consider the rumors in regards to the congressman, a high political ally, as a result of of the good-natured approach Swalwell behaved with him and in entrance of his household and kids — and that none of the rumors pertained to allegations of sexual assault or harassment.
Pressed on whether or not he had seen Swalwell in any compromising positions, he responded, “I didn’t see that. But look, we all heard rumors in Washington, DC, about Eric Swalwell for many years,” including, “My family again was with him all the time, with his wife, with his kids, and we saw a different side of Eric.”
Swalwell resigned from Congress Tuesday as he confronted the risk of an expulsion vote. The swift political downfall got here after NCS and the San Francisco Chronicle reported {that a} former staffer accused him of sexual assault. The California Democrat has strongly denied the allegations towards him.
Gallego, requested if he ought to have acted in a different way when he first heard “rumors” about Swalwell’s behavior a number of years in the past, conceded, “I should have talked to him about it.”
“I think I should have told him, you know, this is what I’m hearing out there. And I think you should know about it, and if you’re doing it, stop. You know, I fell into the trap again because I think I was too inside the family bubble,” he stated.
Gallego insisted he had by no means heard of or witnessed proof of sexual assault or harassment linked to Swalwell. But when allegations had been reported Friday, he stated he referred to as Swalwell and instructed him to “get out” of Congress and the California governor’s race. Swalwell dropped out of the governor’s race on Sunday.
Pressed on how he didn’t find out about any of the allegations, contemplating he chaired Swalwell’s 2020 presidential marketing campaign and had shut perception into his political orbit, Gallego responded, “This man led a double life. He lied to us. He lied to his family, lied to his constituents.”
NCS has reached out to Swalwell for remark.
Gallego stated he had lately requested Swalwell about “rumors” about his conduct selecting up steam on the web throughout his gubernatorial marketing campaign. But the California Democrat denied it, he stated, telling him it was “the same thing they tried to do to you in 2024,” referring to Gallego’s Arizona Senate marketing campaign.
The Arizona Democrat confronted scrutiny from Republicans in his extremely aggressive Senate race over his 2016 divorce from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego when she was pregnant with their son.
“Unfortunately, right now, the same people that were attacking me in 2024 are using this horrible situation, this horrible situation that’s been thrown upon these women, thrown upon Eric Swalwell’s family, and using this as an excuse to quickly attack me, lie about me and my family. I will not take that lightly,” Gallego stated.
The congressman denied having ever been untrue in his personal marriage.
In his closing dialog with Swalwell after the reviews surfaced final week, Gallego stated he was “very frank,” telling him “you need to get out” after the primary allegations had been revealed. He stated Swalwell denied the allegations, but Gallego recalled telling him, “Doesn’t matter. Get out, go back to your family. Take care of your family.”
He stated he has not talked to Swalwell since then and does “absolutely not” plan on reaching out.
“If he’s willing to lie to his family, and he’s willing to betray, you know, his family, his friends, his constituents, there is no friendship. There is no friendship,” Gallego instructed reporters.
When Gallego, who has hinted at his personal greater political aspirations and a possible 2028 run, was requested why he needs to be trusted, he acknowledged, “Look, I messed up. I’m human. I trusted this man. I trusted him to watch my children,” accusing Swalwell of “preying” on his vulnerabilities throughout a “bruising” Senate marketing campaign.
“I was a loyal friend to someone that just was not loyal to me,” he stated.
Asked if this example would influence his determination over whether or not to launch a 2028 presidential marketing campaign, he railed towards “political operatives” utilizing the incident as “cover to attack” him and his household.”
“That’s not even a thing right now,” he stated of the 2028 race, including, “The most important thing is I want to protect my family. I want to protect my family’s reputation.”
Gallego instructed NCS he would launch textual content messages with Swalwell and some other supplies requested by investigators in potential “legal proceedings,” later telling reporters, “We have nothing to hide. I’m being completely transparent and honest with you about what I knew when I knew it.” He recommended, nevertheless, that he wouldn’t launch these messages except requested by authorities.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office stated Saturday it is investigating the allegation of sexual assault the previous staffer stated happened in New York. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office in California instructed NCS in an announcement Saturday it’s “evaluating whether any alleged criminal conduct occurred within” the Bay Area county, the place the identical girl accused Swalwell of a separate act of sexual misconduct she stated happened in 2019.
Acknowledging that Swalwell’s resignation doesn’t deliver “closure” to his alleged victims, Gallego says he plans to talk with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about creating an “independent organization” that protects staffers who need to come ahead about sexual misconduct within the office.
His message to the ladies who’ve come out publicly with allegations towards Swalwell? “I’m sorry that we, you know, we didn’t listen closer,” he stated.