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Senator Gallego Denies Presence in Viral Video of Swalwell and Sex Worker
Gallego distances himself from former friend Swalwell amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.
Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:20pm
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The fallout from the Swalwell scandal exposes the fragility of political trust and the consequences of alleged misconduct.Beverly Hills TodaySenator Ruben Gallego has denied being present in a viral video that appears to show former Congressman Eric Swalwell with a sex worker. Gallego, who previously defended Swalwell, has now thrown his former friend 'under the bus', saying Swalwell lied to him and others in positions of power. Swalwell recently announced his resignation from Congress amid the allegations of sexual assault and predatory behavior.
Why it matters
The fallout from the Swalwell scandal highlights the potential consequences of breaching the public's trust, especially for those in positions of power. Gallego's reversal on his support for Swalwell underscores the political risks of being associated with someone accused of serious misconduct.
The details
After initially defending Swalwell on social media, Gallego began distancing himself from his former friend shortly before Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress. Gallego stated he had no prior knowledge of the allegations against Swalwell and that his judgment was 'clouded' by their friendship. When asked directly if he was the man seen sitting on the bed next to Swalwell in a leaked video, Gallego firmly denied being present in the room.
- On Monday, Gallego began to distance himself from Swalwell shortly before the California Democrat announced his resignation from Congress.
- On Tuesday, after a fifth Swalwell accuser came forward, Gallego threw Swalwell 'under the bus'.
The players
Senator Ruben Gallego
A Democratic senator who was previously considered a close friend of former Congressman Eric Swalwell, but has now distanced himself from Swalwell amid the allegations of sexual misconduct.
Eric Swalwell
A former Democratic Congressman from California who recently announced his resignation from Congress amid allegations of sexual assault and predatory behavior.
What they’re saying
“I want to be clear: I had no knowledge of the allegations of assault, harassment, and predatory behavior against Eric Swalwell. I trusted someone who I believed was a friend, but it is now clear that he is not the person I thought I knew.”
— Senator Ruben Gallego
“Eric Swalwell lied to all of us. He lies to the most powerful people in this country. And they trusted him. They trusted him with the most sensitive spots in our government. Whether it was a Judiciary Committee, Intel Committee, or impeaching Donald Trump. And that clouded my judgment, my friendship with him, our family's friendship together with him clouded my judgment, and I was wrong.”
— Senator Ruben Gallego
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Eric Swalwell to be released on bail.
The takeaway
This scandal highlights the importance of public officials maintaining the trust of their constituents and colleagues. Gallego's reversal on Swalwell demonstrates the political risks of being associated with someone accused of serious misconduct, even if the full truth remains unclear.
