The tide turns quickly in politics. He’s in trouble. We don’t know why all this information is coming out now, but it’s coming and looks to keep going. Is this an attempt to exact some sort of petty revenge on him? The timing seems strange. More and more information keeps coming out. Is it truth or is it fiction? Acknowledgement to Axios via, and Raw Story:
California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was facing calls to step out of the competitive race and lost the last of his 21 endorsements from his Democratic congressional colleagues after sexual misconduct and assault allegations surfaced, according to reports on Saturday. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) rescinded her support for Swalwell, who had been leading the Golden State primary election for Democratic candidates, Axios reported.[Subscription required to read the Axios report, but sign-up is free.]
What on earth happened? Seriously! And again, why now? He was one of a handful of people running for governor since Newsom is term-limited. He was doing well and leading in the polls. But then the allegations started showing up, and his star is falling. We all know that all sorts of things go on in and around Congress. Yet it’s not anywhere near a time where allegations could be used to tank his chances, because we haven’t even reached primaries yet. Is this going to be an “oh, how the mighty have fallen”?
“It’s a stunning reversal of political fortunes in just 24 hours. Swalwell was among the frontrunners in the race, but his campaign is in free fall due to allegations of rape, sexual assault, and misconduct, which he denies, according to Axios. “His page on the Democratic fundraising website ActBlue and the endorsement tab on his website have been pulled down, his ad buys are being pulled back, at least one fundraiser has been scrapped, and he is reportedly hemorrhaging staff,” the outlet reported.
That was quick. 24 hours from top to bottom. Two of the three allegations are no laughing matter in terms of what may have happened. Misconduct could mean just about anything, from accepting a bottle of liquor to accepting a bribe. That one is difficult to parse with limited information. But rape and sexual assault? People pull away from those, so it’s not a surprise he’s lost his endorsements. That’s serious. At least so far, they have been able to keep the names of the accusers out of the press. The timing is still strange.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced on Saturday that it launched an investigation into Swalwell after multiple women had accused the gubernatorial candidate of sexual misconduct, and in one instance, sexual assault. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) said she has planned to force a vote to expel him from Congress.
“It’s not just Swalwell’s erstwhile endorsers calling for him to drop out of the race — party leaders are urging him to do so as well. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement that he should ‘immediately end his campaign,'” Axios reported.
WHAM. Seemingly, no one believes in him anymore. It’s disconcerting that he went from leading in the gubernatorial race to rock bottom so quickly. Right now, there are allegations. Right now, give him the benefit of the doubt. We don’t have enough information to make more than a very broad guess at what he did or didn’t do. We can hope that they *are* just rumors. I have a bad feeling they aren’t. Last but not least, why is the *Manhattan* DA’s office opening an investigation? Swalwell certainly isn’t in New York. And there isn’t a Manhattan in California. We do have 9 different states that have a town named Manhattan. There is your fun fact as I close for the day.
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why is the manhattan da investgating a california rep?
That was exactly my question. What’s the point?
This is all a political scheme put together by nasty GOPers who have NO problem supporting an adjudicated sexual assailant (who could also legally be called a rapist) while knowing you just put together a claim of sexual assault against a Democrat, and he’s toast.
Where have these accusers been all this time that Swalwell’s been in Congress? Hmm? The man’s been in the House since 2013 and Swalwell, what? Just started this behavior since then? It’s funny that he ran for reelection just two years ago and not a peep of any wrongdoing but now that he’s the leading Democrat in the race for California governor, there’s suddenly a little group of accusers coming forward?
Drumpf had been facing claims of sexual assault for several years before he ever decided to run for President and his accusers had largely been “bought off” (with non-disclosure agreements–which Drumpf and his hack lawyers were using against the accusers like THEIR breaking their NDAs was the greater crime) but what caught him was the illegal use of campaign funds to pay Stormy Daniels to keep quiet.
We’ve got at least two justices on the Supreme Court who were accused of sexual misconduct and a Secretary of Defense who faced accusations of sexual misconduct and violence and the GOP did its best to sweep all of these accusations under the basement rug.
If the accusations are true, then the women need to explain why they didn’t come forward BEFORE now because the timing is VERY suspect. And, if they are true, someone needs to find out what happened to Swalwell that brought on this sudden behavior–that is, if it is sudden, and if it isn’t sudden, then why did they wait so long to make the accusations?
I was thinking it was a scheme and I’m glad you concurred. The bias is obvious. Republicans support Trump, out of either fear or rampant stupidity. He’s definitely much worse than what Mr. Swalwell *supposedly* did. The hypocrisy is amazing.
Again, that’s what I was questioning. Where *have* they been. And were they paid to make the accusation? Why now?
I was damn proud of Stormy Daniels.
I know Thomas was accused. Who was the other? I don’t remember. Let’s not get into Hegseth for now. That would be a full length novel.
The whole thing makes no sense. And the women need to explain. They really do.
This is a set-up. We’ve seen this before with Al Franken (who wasn’t allowed the right to justice that every accused is supposed to have under the Constitution and the rules of Congress, before his colleagues forced him out).
Democrats always rush to fiercely condemn their own in a desperate attempt to show they’re better than Republicans. There’s only been one exception – Joe Biden. Fortunately, the attempt to smear his reputation failed.
But it’s a win for Republican cheaters if Democrats don’t apply the same room for doubt and critical thinking to Swalwell’s case.
I was also reminded of the Al Franken debacle and the rush to judgement, in no small part aided and abetted by self-righteous Kirsten Gillebrand, who I will never forgive. This whole thing against Swalwell is suspicious. Here in Oregon, I’ve noticed a marked trend by the Repugs to aggressively go after our Dems and their policies and legislation. Not surprising since they’ve done nothing of their own that they can run on with pride, just their politics of fearmongering, vengeance, retribution, racism, misogyny, the vast corruption machinery they’ve created, and ripping off the little guy in order to profit the billionaires and themselves, starting a war, threatening the world order, creating an oil crisis, etc. Forget holding Rump to account, they are going to slander and sleaze their way through this next primary and general election in the hope they can make us forget who the real sleazebags are. NOT ONE MORE REPUBLICAN! I can’t imagine Oregon under a Republican governor, sacrificing us to their Rump god, so I hope the three D’s (Drazen, Diehl and Dudley, the leading repug candidates) go down hard. It’s obvious R’s are desperate, and they’ve never found any low too low for them to go in order to get their way. I hope Eric can withstand this attack.
Now that’s another interesting perspective. Republicans trying to use sleazy tactics against Democrats, because they know they’re in trouble, and they’re trying to boost themselves up by going low. They really haven’t done anything worthy. The only potential good thing for them is the Epstein Transparency law. But that’s Congress and not state races.
Politics have gotten really skewed since Trump got back into office. It became really noticeable with the BUB. Republicans have gone downhill. It’s all attacks and nothing about what they can *do*.
I really hope he can withstand it, too. He deserves innocent until proven guilty and I support him. This is a little too pat.
It most certainly is a set-up. We had a good candidate leading in the Democratic race for governor. Then this comes out and it all collapses. The timing is strange and the accusations are strange. That’s what bugs me. As far as I recall he was pretty darn good at his job.
Ugh, Republican win. I don’t think it’s possible in California, but they can certainly make people hesitant about voting for a Democrat.
What is going on here?
Maybe he did. Maybe he didn’t. If he has to go TRUMP HAS TO GO. I want an investigation and those women stand up in court.
See, this is what bugs me. He’s been tried and hung without any opportunity to defend himself. Why now? I want an investigation and the women called up in court. This is fishy. And I want the chance for the Epstein survivors to stand up in court and face down Trump. After the baloney Bondi pulled, they deserve that chance. They were really brave to come out in public and push for the files to come out. They deserve their day in court, too. Let’s hope they get it.
I agree with all of you. This is Al Franken and Gennifer Flowers all over again. Until there is real proof, it all sounds like a $3 bill to me.
The whole situation is strange.