Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said Tuesday that his close friendship with Rep. Eric Swalwell obscured his judgment about rumors that the California Democrat had engaged in potentially inappropriate behavior with women over the years.
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“My friendship with him, our family’s friendship together with him, clouded my judgment, and I was wrong — I deeply, deeply regret that,” Gallego told reporters at a press conference on Capitol Hill.
Gallego said he called the news conference to reject any suggestions that he was aware of Swalwell’s alleged sexual misconduct toward women. The Democratic senator, who previously served in the House with Swalwell for a decade, said he had “no knowledge of predatory behavior, sexual assault, or harassment” that have been alleged against the married father of three.
The senator acknowledged that he had heard for “many years” that Swalwell was “just a flirty, social guy,” but only recently asked him about the misconduct allegations after they surfaced.
“My family and his family were as close as it gets,” Gallego told reporters in explaining why he trusted the House member. “Our kids were in baseball camp together. We had dinner together as a family.”
But Gallego said that when rumors about sexual misconduct were circulating several weeks ago — before the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday about a former Swalwell staffer accusing him of two sexual assaults — “I did ask him, and he lied to me,” Gallego said.
A former Swalwell aide alleged to the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN last week that she had several sexual encounters with Swalwell while she worked in his congressional office. She accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent.
A source familiar with the woman’s account confirmed to NBC News that the reporting by CNN and the Chronicle is accurate. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the ongoing legal matter.
Three other women who spoke to CNN also accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct.
Two of them alleged he sent them unsolicited photos or videos of his penis. One, Ally Sammarco, confirmed her account to NBC News, but the network has not independently corroborated the other women’s allegations.
Over the weekend, Swalwell acknowledged making “mistakes” but called the accusations of sexual assault “flat false.”
In remarks at a press conference Tuesday, another woman, Lonna Drewes, accused Swalwell of drugging, choking and raping her in a California hotel room in 2018.
An attorney for Swalwell, Sara Azari, later issued a statement saying Swalwell “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him.”
“These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive — a calculated and transparent political hit job designed to destroy the reputation of a man who has spent twenty years in public service,” Azari said.
“We will fight these despicable and baseless accusations with the same tenacity, courage, and conviction that has defined the Congressman’s public service,” she added.
Gallego was adamant that he never witnessed Swalwell engaging in the reported behavior. “I never saw him engage in any of the predatory behavior, harassment, sexual assault,” he repeated.
“He became very good at being a predator, and he clearly preyed on these women in different positions,” Gallego alleged.
Swalwell’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Gallego’s comments.
Gallego, who chaired Swalwell’s 2020 presidential campaign, told reporters that he would be willing to release any information or records to support his comments if there are legal proceedings or subpoenas.
The senator said that after the Chronicle published its story on Friday, he called Swalwell and told him to drop out of the California gubernatorial race. Swalwell eventually suspended his campaign on Sunday night.
On Monday, just hours after the House Ethics Committee announced it had opened an investigation into him, Swalwell announced he would resign from Congress.
He resigned on Tuesday.
