Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) renewed her attacks on former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), accusing the disgraced California Democrat of continuing behavior she said mirrors that of “an alleged predator” after reports emerged that Swalwell is still messaging women connected to the allegations against him through Snapchat.
Speaking with Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany, Mace reacted to a recent report revealing Swalwell contacted a former intern on Snapchat as recently as this week.“It’s traumatic,” Mace said. “This is very typical behavior of an alleged predator continuing to harass and prey upon their own victims.”
Mace, who has frequently spoken publicly about being a survivor of sexual assault herself, said she has spent years working alongside abuse survivors and argued the continued outreach described in reports reflects familiar patterns of manipulation and intimidation. “I’ve seen it in my own life. I’ve seen it in victims that I’ve been working with,” she said. “A lot of times women — and men too — are attacked and blamed, and that’s what I feel is happening when I read those messages.”
Rep. Nancy Mace says America’s culture on dealing with predators MUST change—and it starts at the top:
Kayleigh McEnany: “This behavior of Eric Swalwell, that he says these messages are routine and then yet he’s still messaging these women at 1:57am saying it’s about… pic.twitter.com/vAoRCGNERs
— Julia 🇺🇸 (@Jules31415) May 9, 2026
The comments came after a New York Times report detailing Swalwell’s continued use of Snapchat, the same disappearing-message platform central to multiple misconduct allegations that surfaced earlier this year and ultimately ended his California gubernatorial campaign.
According to the report, Swalwell recently messaged a former intern through the app asking why she had screenshotted their chat history. While the reported messages were not sexual in nature, critics argued the contact itself raised further questions given the broader allegations surrounding the former congressman.
At least six women have publicly or anonymously accused Swalwell of misconduct ranging from inappropriate workplace behavior and explicit communications to allegations of sexual assault and non-consensual encounters. Several accusations specifically involve Snapchat exchanges that allegedly included explicit messages and photographs.
One former staffer alleged that while working closely with Swalwell as a 21-year-old aide, the congressman gradually shifted professional communication into private Snapchat conversations that became sexual in nature. Other women have alleged unsolicited explicit images, coercive dynamics tied to professional relationships, and hotel encounters involving alcohol and unwanted advances.
Swalwell has denied all allegations and has not been charged criminally in connection with any of the claims, though he is under investigation. Mace argued public officials accused of abusing positions of power should face severe consequences if allegations are substantiated.
“If you are in a position of power, if you are a powerful politician, you must be removed from office,” Mace said. “That’s the only way we’re going to change the culture in this country — by starting at the top.”
Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign in April following the publication of reports by CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle detailing allegations from multiple women. He is also reportedly facing investigations tied to separate allegations in both California and New York.
The controversy has continued to follow Swalwell months after the collapse of his campaign and resignation from congress with critics increasingly focusing not only on the allegations themselves, but on his continued use of disappearing-message platforms to communicate privately with women connected to the accusations.
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