Democratic Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner released a video denying the accusations of sexual misconduct, disturbing and abusive behavior, and even rape — but some quickly noticed that his speech sounded familiar.
When viewed side by side with a video from disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) — who resigned after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct and assault — it was so similar that it might easily have been scripted by the same person.
WATCH:
<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;"><iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/foGKdXSoSW7Z00sAjbvTtzuU5XbQBEeDA?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=87a702c7-4863-4e0d-9987-d2ffbd45e30a&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=2026-07-08%20Swalwell%20Platner%20Similar%20Denials&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2Ffc7c88c6-7364-4e88-8a3e-c8e37312b26b.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-new-sexual-assault-accusation-rocks-maine-democrat-graham-platner">Platner responded</a> after former girlfriend Jenny Racicot came forward, speaking with both Politico and CNN about the night she said Platner showed up at her home and forced himself on her.
&#8220;I wanted to directly address the troubling, serious, and false allegations against me,&#8221; Platner began, speaking directly to the camera. &#8220;Any accusation of nonconsensual behavior is categorically false.&#8221;
Platner then spoke of his constituents, saying that he&#8217;d been &#8220;deeply humbled&#8221; by the amount of faith they&#8217;d placed in him and thanking them for welcoming him into their lives throughout his campaign.
&#8220;So regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,&#8221; Platner said, adding, &#8220;As Maine goes, so goes the nation.&#8221;
Swalwell gave a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swalwell-wont-drop-out-despite-his-metoo-era-kavanaugh-demand">remarkably similar statement</a> in the wake of sexual misconduct and assault accusations just a few months earlier, also speaking directly to the camera.
&#8220;A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations,” Swalwell said at the time. “And I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly.”
“These allegations of sexual assault are flat false, they’re absolutely false,” he added. “They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have. They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor in California.”
“I do not suggest to you in any way that I am perfect or that I’m a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past,” Swalwell continued. “But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position. I also apologize to you if in any way you have doubted your support for me. But I think you know who I am.”
Within days of releasing the video, Swalwell had dropped out of the California gubernatorial primary — which he was leading — and resigned from Congress.

SEE IT: Compare Swalwell, Platner’s Nearly Identical Denials

SEE IT: Compare Platner, Swalwell's Nearly Identical Denials

Eric Swalwell

graham platner

Media

Politics

Rape

Sexual Assault

Sexual Misconduct

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) funded a trip to the Super Bowl with cash from a joint campaign account he shared with disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA).
According to a <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/21/gallego-campaign-donors-travel-00969326">report</a> from POLITICO, Gallego used campaign donations to fund a number of private excursions — including child care expenses and family trips to Disney World in addition to Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, in 2023.
Gallego <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swalwells-bff-brings-back-infamous-biden-lackey-to-manage-crisis-response">recently hired</a> Andrew Bates, who served as deputy press secretary for former President Joe Biden, to manage crisis communications related to his long friendship with Swalwell as well as any interactions with the Senate Ethics Committee — interactions that may be coming sooner rather than later.
As POLITICO reported, Gallego&#8217;s campaign finance records reveal that he used money from his leadership PAC to pay for personal travel — trips to Disneyland and Disney World as well as to Chicago and Miami — and other personal and family expenses. At least once, the report claims, Gallego used campaign cash or money from his PAC to pay his mother-in-law $400 for child care — and since 2019, withdrew more than $18,000 for child care-related expenses.
Gallego, according to the outlet, appeared to concede that he had spent campaign funds on child care, saying in a statement, &#8220;This is not breaking news. With the rising costs of child care and the burden it has on the budgets of American families, Democrats and Republicans in Congress and the White House alike regularly travel with their wives and children, as is permitted by the FEC.&#8221;
The FEC does allow payments designated for child care, travel, and food — provided the events are campaign-related. Any expenses that would exist regardless of the campaign are not covered by those exemptions.
In addition to managing the questions likely to come from the Senate Ethics Committee regarding his spending habits, Gallego has worked to distance himself from Swalwell — his friend and former roommate — as he prepares for a potential presidential run in 2028.
Since the report also details the Super Bowl trip with Swalwell and his wife — paid for with funds from a joint campaign account that he and Swalwell shared — maintaining that distance may prove more difficult in the future.

Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act

Dem Senator Used Donor Cash From Joint Account With Bestie Eric Swalwell To Buy Super Bowl Tix

Swalwell's Bestie Used Donor Cash To Fund Disney Trips And Super Bowl Tix

campaign donation

campaign funds

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has brought in a veteran crisis communicator to handle public scrutiny over his ties to disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and any future dealings with the Senate Ethics Committee.
The communicator in question is Andrew Bates, who most recently handled crisis communications for former President Joe Biden as he weathered the final days of his ill-fated 2024 re-election campaign and the end of his term in the White House.
According to a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/09/democrats-ruben-gallego-eric-swalwell-biden-andrew-bates?utm_campaign=mrf-utm_campaign=editorial&amp;utm_source=x&amp;utm_medium=owned_social&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;mrfcid=202606096a1d03c13e6f3e29b07150c1">report</a> published Tuesday by Axios, some in Gallego&#8217;s camp feel they&#8217;re being sidelined to make room for the Biden alum.
&#8220;Senator Gallego has been clear that he plans to help Democrats take the majority in 2026 and is weighing all options for his political future. He has brought on Andrew to help navigate those processes,&#8221; a spokesperson for Gallego told the outlet.
What Gallego&#8217;s team did not say was that the senator has been under increased scrutiny since several women came forward with accusations of sexual misconduct and even rape against Swalwell. Gallego has repeatedly claimed that he had no knowledge of Swalwell&#8217;s alleged behavior — despite the fact that the former California congressman was a longtime close friend and former roommate.
An experienced crisis communicator may be necessary if Gallego is to survive the fallout — and Bates&#8217; work for the Biden White House certainly speaks to that.
When even the Democratic leaders in Congress — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), among others — were approaching the White House and calling for Biden to bow out of the 2024 race, Bates was telling reporters that it wasn&#8217;t going to happen.
&#8220;The president told both leaders he is the nominee of the party, he plans to win and looks forward to working with both of them to pass his 100-days agenda to help working families,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/18/us/politics/biden-election-drop-out.html">Bates said</a>, just a few days before Biden announced that he would not continue his presidential re-election campaign.
On July 18, Bates posted an ABC News article citing an unnamed White House official who declared Biden&#8217;s plan to remain in the race.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“Flatly denied reports that the president is now more open to the idea of ending his campaign.
‘Anyone who has talked to Joe Biden in the last 24 hours can tell you that is not true,’ [said] the senior White House official, who has spoken to Biden today”<a href="https://t.co/oCbBCvfciW">https://t.co/oCbBCvfciW</a>
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewBatesNC/status/1814028972809683025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Keep the faith,&#8221; Bates posted on July 20 — along with an article about Biden&#8217;s plans to hit the campaign trail in the coming days.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Keep the faith.
“1 big thing: Biden digs in”
“Biden officials are telling Democratic critics that President Biden is eager to prove them wrong — and plans to hit the campaign trail once he recovers from COVID” <a href="https://t.co/fIrxXSsrXv">https://t.co/fIrxXSsrXv</a>
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewBatesNC/status/1814663860525097305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Just over 24 hours later, Biden would exit the race.
And by late February of 2025, Bates — who had defended Biden to the final hours of both his campaign and his presidency — was on MS NOW claiming that President Donald Trump might not have the &#8220;energy&#8221; to do the job well.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://x.com/FoxNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNews</a>: &#8220;Former Biden spokesperson suggests Trump might not have the &#8216;energy&#8217; to do the job, &#8216;desperate to show that he&#8217;s in charge'&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ML0U5uB91v">https://t.co/ML0U5uB91v</a>
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewBatesNC/status/1893730118528278608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Swalwell’s BFF Brings Back Infamous Biden Lackey To Manage Crisis Response

Swalwell's BFF Brings Back Infamous Biden Lackey To Manage Crisis Response

Joe Biden

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined the rest of the Democrats in skipping a Wednesday on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic — but he also took it a step further, walking by while the hearing was going on and appearing to mock it.
Not one of the Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security &amp; Governmental Affairs Committee — to include Gallego — attended the hearing, where CIA whistleblower James Erdman III testified that Dr. Anthony Fauci had intentionally worked to cover up information regarding the pandemic&#8217;s origins.
But while most Democrats on the committee stayed away from the hearing entirely, Fox News Congressional Correspondent Bill Melugin reported that Gallego — accompanied by at least one staffer — walked by while the hearing was still ongoing.
&#8220;Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), who is on this committee, just walked by the hearing room and saw all the media cameras and said something along the lines of, &#8216;Wow, what’s going on here?&#8217; A staffer walking with him replied &#8216;I don’t know.&#8217; Unclear if they were trolling or not,&#8221; Melugin said in an <a href="https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2054574539611205713">X post</a>.
He later relayed the story to Fox News host Harris Faulkner, saying, &#8220;Senator Ruben Gallego, Democrat from Arizona, actually walked by us about 15 minutes ago. He saw the media cameras here, and we couldn’t tell if he was joking or trolling or not, but he said, &#8216;Hey, what’s going on here?&#8217; And his staffer said, &#8216;I don’t know,&#8217; and they walked past us. He is on that committee. He’s not in the room.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Fox’s Bill Melugin just exposed the stunning no-show by Senate Democrats at the CIA whistleblower hearing on Covid.
Not a SINGLE Democrat was in the room — even though several sit on the Homeland Security Committee.
MELUGIN: “There are no Senate Democrats inside of that hearing… <a href="https://t.co/dERE0QpHWY">pic.twitter.com/dERE0QpHWY</a>
— Overton (@overton_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/overton_news/status/2054587401851343065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Gallego has been under increased scrutiny of late because of his close ties to disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) — who resigned after several accusations of sexual misconduct, harassment, and even rape — and has claimed that the former California congressman had succeeded in hiding his &#8220;double life&#8221; even when the two were roommates.
At the hearing Gallego and the other Democrats missed, Erdman laid out the complex web of experts — most of whom were previously linked to Fauci — who had worked to control what information was eventually revealed to the American people.
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) called out the federal agencies that had a part in handling the information, saying they had essentially given &#8220;the big middle finger&#8221; to the American people by not being more transparent at the time.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="COVID whistleblower blows lid off Fauci coverup, ‘middle finger’ to Americans" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9gbBySuT4xs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Ruben Gallego

Swalwell’s Best Buddy Didn’t Just Skip The COVID Hearing, He’s Accused Of Mocking It

Swalwell's Best Buddy Didn't Just Skip The COVID Hearing, He Mocked It

Anthony Fauci

COVID-19

Democrats

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.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Rep. Nancy Mace says America&#8217;s culture on dealing with predators MUST change—and it starts at the top:
Kayleigh McEnany: &#8220;This behavior of Eric Swalwell, that he says these messages are routine and then yet he&#8217;s still messaging these women at 1:57am saying it&#8217;s about… <a href="https://t.co/vAoRCGNERs">pic.twitter.com/vAoRCGNERs</a>
— Julia 🇺🇸 (@Jules31415) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jules31415/status/2053203059803591132?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
The comments came after a New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/us/eric-swalwell-social-media.html?unlocked_article_code=1.fVA.r66S.i6XObba2CjDA&amp;smid=url-share">report</a> 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 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/disgraced-dem-eric-swalwells-brazilian-nanny-has-entered-the-chat">alleged</a> 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.

Democratic Reps. Schiff, Swalwell, And Omar Discuss Committee Assignments

Disgraced Swalwell Torched Over Latest Creepy Behavior

Sexual Harassment

Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego partied late into the night at a Bogotá nightclub during an official trip to Colombia last year despite warnings that his life was in danger, according to a new report. 
Citing sources familiar with the August 2025 <a href="https://www.gallego.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-gallego-travels-to-colombia-on-congressional-delegation-trip/">trip</a>, Gallego, a close friend of disgraced ex-Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA), was informed of a credible threat to his life while attending a dinner with U.S. Embassy officials, NOTUS <a href="https://www.notus.org/senate/ruben-gallego-colombia-trip-embassy-threat">reported</a>. The outlet said the embassy employees advised him not to leave the embassy compound, but Gallego later went out to a club in Bogotá, where he remained until approximately 3:00 am.
The report also states that Gallego invited multiple U.S. Embassy personnel to join him at the nightclub. At least one female staffer was among those invited, according to NOTUS.
In a statement, a spokesman for Gallego disputed the report&#8217;s description of the evening, saying the senator “coordinated closely with embassy security throughout the trip, including on the evening in question, and followed all security guidance.” 
“While at dinner at the conclusion of a successful congressional delegation trip, the Senator and his Chief of Staff invited Embassy staff to join them, a common way to recognize the work of those who support these visits,” the spokesman said. “As one of the first Colombian-American Senators elected to Congress, Senator Gallego was proud of the work done in Colombia and looks forward to continuing efforts to strengthen U.S. ties in the Southern Hemisphere.”
Gallego’s trip focused on discussions with Colombian officials about “organized crime, the business climate, and China’s growing influence,” according to his office. 
The Arizona Democrat has come under increasing scrutiny due to his ties to Swalwell, who resigned from Congress after being accused of sexual assault and misconduct. Gallego, who once <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-lawmakers-pose-shirtless-while-riding-camels-on-qatar-trip-bought-by-special-interest-group-report">rode camels</a> shirtless in Qatar with Swalwell, initially defended his friendship before accusing him of living a double life. 
“I’ve read the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting and I take it seriously,” he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swalwells-dem-buddies-flee-like-rats-after-sexual-assault-allegation">said</a>. “What is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed.”

Swalwell’s Best Buddy In Congress Partied Hard In Colombia On Work Trip

Arizona

Colombia

Congress

Senate

Billionaire and California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer just won the endorsement of Our Revolution, a political action group backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), which routinely voices opposition to the existence of billionaires.
The group addressed the irony of the endorsement head on, acknowledging Steyer’s billionaire status in a press release, adding that ”it matters what he is doing with that power: pushing for taxes on the wealthy, expanding universal programs, and dismantling corporate influence in our politics.”
“Tom Steyer understands that California’s affordability crisis is not inevitable — it’s the result of a political system shaped by concentrated wealth and corporate power at the expense of working people,” Our Revolution Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese said in a statement.
“At a moment when too many defend the status quo, Tom has taken a different path — challenging the very system that benefits people like him,” he added. An X post from the organization pointed out that this is the first time they have endorsed a billionaire for public office.
Steyer said that he’s “honored” to get the endorsement and said that “as Governor, [he’ll] work tirelessly to realize our shared vision of a California that works for working people.”
The group’s <a href="https://ourrevolution.com/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> openly touts efforts to “Defund Oligarchy” and its goal to “eliminate in the influence of corporations, billionaires and consultants in our political process.”
Steyer, a climate activist who built his wealth from creating the hedge fund Farallon Capital, has a net worth of $2.4 billion, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/thomas-steyer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forbes</a>. He has spent tens of millions dominating the airwaves in the Golden State, and he took similar actions when he unsuccessfully sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
However, the endorsement comes as some data indicated he is the top polling Democrat in the upcoming top-two primary race on June 2, according to <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/general/2026/california/open_primary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RealClearPolling</a>.
Eric Swalwell (D-CA) dropped out of the governor’s race and resigned from Congress after several sexual misconduct allegations, which shook up the contest since he had previously been considered the Democrats’ best shot.
The field of Democrats still remains wide open, however, with Steyer up going up against former Rep. Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, among others.
Former California State Controller Betty Yee dropped out of the race on Monday, as she was polling poorly. Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to endorse a successor.
Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco are still having a strong showing in polling data, however, indicating the slight possibility of a Republican lockout in the primary. The top two candidates in California&#8217;s &#8220;jungle primary,&#8221; regardless of party, will advance to the general election in November.

New York Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Holds Election Rally With Bernie Sanders And Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Bernie Sanders-Backed Group Hates Billionaires. They Just Endorsed One In Messy Governor’s Race.

Bernie Sanders

California

Tom Steyer

Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher joined in the wave of renewed scrutiny around former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who he described as a &#8220;f*cking creep&#8221; — which has prompted fresh debate in Washington over how long allegations and rumors can circulate inside political and media circles before ever becoming public.
Swalwell, once a prominent Democratic figure and frequent cable news guest during the Trump era, saw his political career collapse in a matter of days earlier this month after a series of sexual misconduct allegations surfaced publicly, including claims of rape and sexual assault. He has since suspended his California gubernatorial campaign, resigned from Congress, and acknowledged “mistakes” while denying the more serious accusations.
The speed of that fall has only intensified questions about what was known, and when. That surfaced again on Saturday when Bill Maher <a href="https://x.com/Ltrs_Frm_Across/status/2045538507238543768">addressed the situation on air</a>, describing what he said was a long-standing perception of Swalwell that never made it into mainstream reporting until recently.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
💥NEW: Bill Maher on Eric Swalwell: &#8220;We had him on a couple of times. Ask my staff: I never liked him. I don’t have good gaydar — but I got creepdar. I always thought this guy was a f*cking creep. I never liked him.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/QCMWJoU0hw">pic.twitter.com/QCMWJoU0hw</a>
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonJournoDC/status/2045491220541997305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Speaking of creepy stuff, have you been following the Eric Swalwell case here in California?” Maher said. “I got to say, we had him on a couple of times. Ask my staff. I never liked him. I don’t have good gaydar, but I got creepdar. I always thought this guy was a f*cking creep.”
Maher then broadened the point beyond Swalwell himself, arguing that similar patterns have played out repeatedly in American politics.
“I hear this so many times,” he said, pointing to figures like Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby, and Harvey Weinstein. “You know, it was an open secret in Arkansas. It was an open secret,” he said of Clinton-era allegations, drawing a comparison to other long-circulating claims that only later became public scandals.
“What is going on here, where it takes so long for the open secret to become public?” Maher asked. “I seem to remember that back in the old days … when JFK was President, we heard, well, the media used to protect politicians, and they knew what JFK was doing, but it was just something they didn’t report on. Is it any different now? Apparently not.”
The reference to John F. Kennedy underscored Maher’s broader argument: that media institutions, while more expansive today, still exercise selective judgment over what becomes public and when. Those comments come as new reporting and commentary continue to surface suggesting that concerns about Swalwell’s conduct were known inside political and media circles.
Former Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo warned in a <a href="https://x.com/mikehtrujillo/status/2043523203147178217">now-deleted post</a> that Swalwell’s past behavior would eventually surface during his gubernatorial run, referencing allegations involving interns and inappropriate conduct. Trujillo later said he removed the post after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Swalwell’s campaign.
Separately, Politico <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/13/influencers-allegations-eric-swalwell-00869517?user_id=679d0ffd415ba72c220d02ff">reported</a> that Swalwell had “developed a reputation for unsavory and sometimes unwanted behavior toward women,” citing what it described as longstanding “whisper networks” among political insiders that rarely extended into public reporting.
The result is a familiar pattern in which reputational information circulates informally inside elite political and media environments but remains unreported until it becomes politically unavoidable.
That dynamic is now drawing renewed attention as Swalwell’s career unravels in real time, with questions mounting not only about the allegations themselves, but about why they took so long to surface publicly in a sustained way. And as that debate continues to grow, one question is increasingly hanging over the story: if everyone in Washington and California knew, why didn&#8217;t anyone say anything sooner?

Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers

Watch Bill Maher Trash Eric Swalwell: ‘F*cking Creep’

Bill Maher Trashes 'F*cking Creep' Eric Swalwell, Says He's Proof That Media Protects Politicians

Bill Maher

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a fundraising email shortly after former Rep. Eric Swalwell&#8217;s (D-CA) resignation amid sexual misconduct allegations, including rape accusations, using the vacancy to urge donors to help Democrats quickly reclaim the seat.
&#8220;With a very slim Republican majority in Congress, I was not going to give Mike Johnson even a single extra day before filling this seat,” Newsom wrote in the email, which was sent by his Campaign for Democracy PAC, according to <a href="https://x.com/jamesd0wns/status/2044510404596924828?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Journal</a>.
Swalwell stepped down Tuesday as multiple investigations were launched into the allegations. He is now under investigation by the Justice Department, the Manhattan District Attorney, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff&#8217;s Department. No charges have been filed against the Democrat, but the disturbing claims led to his resignation from Congress and exit from the California governor&#8217;s race.
At a Tuesday press conference, model Lonna Drewes accused Swalwell of raping her during an alleged 2018 encounter.
“He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness,” Drewes said. “And I thought I died. I did not consent to any sexual activity.”
At least one other woman has claimed that Swalwell raped her. Others alleged that the Democrat sent them inappropriate messages over Snapchat, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> reported.
Despite the nature of the allegations, Newsom&#8217;s email did not address them directly, instead focusing on the political stakes of the vacancy and the narrow Republican majority in the House.
The message concluded with a fundraising appeal from Newsom&#8217;s political action committee, asking recipients to donate $35.
Newsom has said the special election, scheduled for August 18, is the earliest date allowed under state law.
Republicans criticized the move, arguing Newsom has not shown the same urgency in similar situations.
Besides rape accusations, others alleged that the Democrat sent them inappropriate messages over Snapchat, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a> reported.
The timing has drawn criticism from Republicans, who argue Newsom has not applied the same urgency in similar situations.
The Daily Wire previously reported that Newsom scheduled a special election for the late to fill the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa&#8217;s (R-CA) right-leaning seat months after his death earlier this year. In another case, the seat of former Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) remained vacant for nearly a year following his 2020 resignation. can Hunter (R-CA) was left vacant for nearly a year following his resignation in 2020.
“It’s another example of how Gavin Newsom, he doesn’t care about stripping people of their voice and their representation as long as it politically benefits him,” state Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-CA) told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/newsom-accused-of-running-the-clock-differently-depending-on-who-it-helps?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Newsom+Accused+Of+Running+The+Clock+Differently+Depending+On+Who+It+Helps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a>.
Republicans currently hold a narrow 218-213 majority in the House, raising the stakes for quickly filling vacant seats.
The Daily Wire reached out to the Newsom’s PAC and office for comment.

62. Munich Security Conference

Following Rape Accusations Against Swalwell, Newsom Fundraises Off His Ouster

2026 election

Gavin Newsom

Mike Johnson

Eric Swalwell has ended his campaign for California governor and resigned from Congress, saying he wants to spend more time with his family, a drunken staffer, and the woman he has imprisoned in the oubliette in his basement. Swalwell made his decision after several women accused him of doing what everyone knew he was doing but no one said he was doing until it turned out his crappy gubernatorial campaign might get a Republican elected in California.
Swalwell said the charges that he pestered, assaulted and even raped women were as untrue as the charges Swalwell himself leveled against Brett Kavanaugh, if you didn’t count all the women Swalwell pestered, assaulted and raped. In a statement Swalwell issued while simultaneously attempting to keep a straight face, the former congressman said: “I want to declare categorically that I never had non-consensual sex with a Chinese spy and when I did have sex with a Chinese spy, I not only had her consent but the consent of the entire Chinese Communist Party. Even then, I never once shared with her any of the classified information I was privy to on the House Intelligence Committee, except a few times when I might have shouted out the occasional tidbit in the throes of ecstasy, which could have happened to anyone because the Chinese teach their spies to do some amazing, amazing stuff in the sack. As for the other women I forced myself on, those assaults were totally consensual. And sure, some of those babes might have been drunk at the time, but it’s not my fault if they can’t hold their roofies.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-1275-dumb-dumber-and-progressive?contentProgram=The%20Andrew%20Klavan%20Show&amp;contentType=ShowEpisode&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;location=Home%20Tab&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Home%20Featured%20Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974735 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1024x171.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1024x171.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-300x50.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-768x128.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1536x256.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now.jpg 1800w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
Swalwell is also accused of sending women pictures of his penis in the belief that somewhere in our infinite multiverse with its numberless versions of reality, there exists an alternate timeline which includes a woman who wants to see a picture of Eric Swalwell’s penis, a belief that turned out to be entirely untrue.
Swalwell’s fellow Democrats said they were absolutely shocked to find out he had been doing what they knew he’d been doing, and said they would have spoken out earlier had they known what they obviously knew. Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, for instance, said, “If I had for one moment suspected what I was absolutely sure of, I would never have allowed Swalwell to remain on the Intelligence Committee while he was clearly banging a Chinese spy.” Pelosi then vanished, as her entire body was subsumed by the bottomless moral emptiness within her, but Democrats said they nonetheless hoped to convince her to run for re-election.
Other leftist hacks were also stunned to learn what they already knew. For instance, the New York Times, a former newspaper, ran an editorial that said, “It is long past time that we as a society learned to believe all women who were too drunk to remember what actually happened, and then went for years pretending it hadn’t happened, and then said it happened but were too drunk to remember what it was. Swalwell is a married man, and this paper feels it is wrong to commit adultery when your crappy gubernatorial campaign might get a Republican elected. Otherwise, of course, we recommend adultery as a fun way to freshen up your marriage, until not only your family but hopefully the American family as an institution falls to pieces, leading to the collapse of liberty, which would allow wise elites like ourselves to impose a socialist paradise or at least kill anyone who says it’s not a paradise, which amounts to the same thing.”
Feminists also attacked Swalwell. Stanford Professor of Advanced Hostility Susan Shrike, author of the bestselling feminist tract “I Almost Hate You More Than Myself,” spoke to reporters in an ear-splitting skirl of inhuman sound, saying, “The worst aspect of Swalwell’s behavior is that he makes it seem as if feminists should not have supported a sexual revolution that denied the procreative purpose of sex and its accompanying moral restrictions. That would mean feminists were wrong about everything, and we feminists don’t believe that because we’re wrong about everything. And while we’re on the subject of Eric Swalwell, where’s that picture of his penis he promised me?”
* * *
This excerpt is taken from the opening satirical monologue of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-andrew-klavan-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Andrew Klavan Show</a>.”
Andrew Klavan is the host of “The Andrew Klavan Show” at The Daily Wire. Klavan is the bestselling author of numerous books, including the Cameron Winter Mystery series. The fifth installment, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/After-That-Cameron-Winter-Mysteries/dp/1613166869/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EGZUC370LG46&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Y_NI0mDOKeowShheDQTVx5NH-fAeimJoCD56_T0Acpl8C0mup7uJf-nGGSRLEItaaekoDnvS2vWLMa4Zd2UBXQ8Y-g-P502jOWz-Y8IX3ZQsdlO7WMLrg1xIhNoKmjCorSWUR4C2l_RbiZ7apJ1MfPzGOrrEf7AdAXX6xwnJRVP_XqUfWuMuVthTWscaU3P4vgmS86-96n-721enHfX12CFQWTajqFbVnrsDkexfUf4.6_gTH6h1Bb9Pn375QdF_VAVZSayDvjQBBKGXE-MTiFo&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=klavan&amp;qid=1754049918&amp;sprefix=%2Caps%2C80&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">After That, The Dark,</a> is NOW AVAILABLE. Follow him on X: <a href="https://x.com/andrewklavan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@andrewklavan</a>.

FBI Director Kash Patel Testifies In Hearings On Capitol Hill

Democrats Shocked Over Swalwell ‘Surprise Party’ They RSVP’d To Years Ago

Democrats Shocked Over Swalwell 'Surprise Party' They RSVP’d To Years Ago

Andrew Klavan

Humor

MeToo

Satire

The Department of Justice is investigating former Congressman Eric Swalwell for alleged sexual assault, a source familiar told The Daily Wire Thursday.
The disgraced California Democrat is already under investigation for two separate sexual assault incidents by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Few details are known about the Justice Department investigation, which <a href="https://www.notus.org/courts/eric-swalwell-justice-department-investigation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NOTUS</a> first reported Thursday.
Several women have come forward accusing Swalwell of sexual harassment or assault, with the allegations ranging from rape to sending inappropriate images over Snapchat.
“He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness,” model Lonna Drewes told reporters in California on Tuesday regarding a 2018 incident at a West Hollywood hotel. “And I thought I died. I did not consent to any sexual activity.”
“My delay in taking action against Eric was driven by fear, not doubt. Fear of his political power, his background as an attorney, and his family law enforcement ties,” she continued.
Swalwell resigned from Congress on Tuesday after dropping out of the California governor’s race over the weekend.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” Swalwell said in a statement on Monday.
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro set up a tip line for possible leads related to Swalwell in the nation’s capital.
“We’ve gotten some, but we’re trying to make sense as to whether or not they involve this jurisdiction or whether they involve a crime at all,” Pirro told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jeanine-pirro-breaks-down-why-swalwell-could-face-decades-behind-bars?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=EXCLUSIVE%3A+Jeanine+Pirro+Breaks+Down+Why+Swalwell+Could+Face+Decades+Behind+Bars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> on Wednesday. “We have to go through a process where we actually review that and not just count the numbers.”
However, she said if he is charged and convicted of rape, he could face years behind bars. Swalwell has yet to be arrested or criminally charged in any case.
“Let’s just put it this way. Based upon an allegation that’s already been made of possibly drugging, choking, and then raping a woman,” Pirro said. “You’re talking about decades in prison,” Pirro added.

Swalwell Under Federal Investigation For Alleged Sexual Assault

justice department

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing pushback for the timing of the special election to replace former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) in the Bay Area congressional district.
The special runoff election is set for August 18, but the primary will occur on June 16 in the deep blue district where Swalwell won his last election by nearly 36 percent — approximately two months after the congressman&#8217;s resignation.
Compare that to the timeline to replace Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), who passed away in early January: a special election primary won&#8217;t take place until June 2 before a potential runoff on August 4 in the deeply Republican district. In either primary race, a candidate needs over 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.
Additionally, in January 2020, following the resignation of Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Gov. Newsom faced scrutiny over the decision not to have a special election at all, which left the seat vacant for almost an entire year.
“Ask Greg Abbott about the 18th congressional district in Texas,” Brandon Richards, deputy director for Rapid Response for Newsom’s office, told The Daily Wire when asked about the unusual timing. In Texas’ 18th Congressional District, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) faced criticism from Democrats over the seat being left open for over a year.
“It&#8217;s another example of how Gavin Newsom, he doesn&#8217;t care about stripping people of their voice and their representation as long as it politically benefits him,” State Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-CA) said. DeMaio was a vocal critic of the decision to keep Hunter’s seat vacant, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/01/08/duncan-hunter-seat-will-remain-vacant-as-newsom-forgoes-special-election-1247432" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Politico</a>.
“If it’s a Republican seat, [Newsom] won&#8217;t call the special election at all, or he&#8217;ll try to delay it for as long as possible, as he did with LaMalfa. And if it&#8217;s a Democrat seat, ‘Oh, my goodness,’ he&#8217;s gonna basically stretch and tear every single logistical hurdle, in order to get the seat filled,” the lawmaker added.
Republicans currently hold an extremely narrow 218-213 majority in the House of Representatives, as mid-decade redistricting will drastically change the maps in California, Texas, and other states until after the 2030 census data is evaluated.
California added five Democrat-leaning seats for the November election with the passage of Prop. 50, while Texas added five Republican-leaning seats. Other states have taken similar measures, including Virginia, which will vote on April 21 on whether to create a 10-1 Democrat-leaning map.
Swalwell resigned on Tuesday following multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment. He also opted to suspend his campaign to become California’s next governor — though many surveys showed that he was the highest polling Democrat in the crowded top-two primary — but he lost nearly all of his endorsements when the allegations became public.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” he said in a statement as an expulsion vote loomed over him.
“Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties,” Swalwell wrote. “Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress. I will work with my staff in the coming days to ensure they are able, in my absence, to serve the needs of the good people of the 14th congressional district.”

Newsom Accused Of Running The Clock Differently Depending On Who It Helps

Republicans

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