Swalwell's Best Dem Pal Defends Lack of Knowledge on Misconduct Allegations

Sen. Ruben Gallego claims former Rep. Eric Swalwell 'lied' to him about the allegations.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:05pm by

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A fractured, abstract painting featuring the silhouette of a politician in overlapping geometric shapes and waves of deep blue, violet, and crimson, conveying a sense of political turmoil and deception.The fallout from allegations against a prominent Democratic politician has exposed divisions within the party and raised questions about accountability among political leaders.San Francisco Today

Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego, who served as chairman of former Rep. Eric Swalwell's failed 2020 presidential bid and has been described by Swalwell as his 'best friend,' faced questions from reporters about his knowledge of sexual misconduct allegations against Swalwell. Gallego claimed Swalwell 'lied' to him and 'manipulated' their personal relationship to deceive him into defending Swalwell.

Why it matters

The allegations against Swalwell, who recently resigned from Congress, have raised questions about the vetting process for political candidates and the responsibility of those close to them to be aware of potential misconduct. Gallego's defense of his lack of knowledge has further fueled concerns about the political culture of cover-ups and denial.

The details

Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress on Monday, one day after he ended his gubernatorial campaign, over allegations from multiple women, including one from a former staffer accusing him of assaulting her on two occasions. Gallego, who served as chairman of Swalwell's failed 2020 presidential bid, faced questions from reporters about the allegations and his initial defense of Swalwell. Gallego claimed Swalwell 'lied' to him and 'manipulated' their personal relationship to deceive him into defending Swalwell.

  • Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress on Monday, April 14, 2026.
  • Gallego and Swalwell took a trip to Qatar together in 2021.

The players

Ruben Gallego

A first-term Democratic senator from Arizona who served as chairman of Eric Swalwell's failed 2020 presidential bid and has been described by Swalwell as his 'best friend'.

Eric Swalwell

A former Democratic congressman from California who recently resigned from Congress amid allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women, including a former staffer.

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What they’re saying

“We knew each other differently from everyone else. My family and his family were as close as it gets, our kids were in baseball camp together. You know, we, we had dinner together as a family. It, it was entirely different, but I think what people understand... when there was rumors going around a couple of weeks ago, not of the folks or whatever in San Francisco Chronicle, I did ask him, and he lied to me.”

— Ruben Gallego, Senator

“How did you not know about the allegations though, considering you chaired his presidential campaign?”

— Reporter

“This man led a double life. He lied to us, he lied to his family, he lied to his constituents. It's the most powerful people in this country, you know, even before he ran, he was trusted with some, some, you know, positions that normally we would never think someone like this could do if they're leading that double life. And again, I was manipulated, I was lied to, and everyone else was too.”

— Ruben Gallego, Senator

What’s next

If subpoenaed, Gallego said he would release any requested text messages or other materials related to the allegations against Swalwell.

The takeaway

The allegations against Swalwell and Gallego's defense of his lack of knowledge raise serious questions about the vetting process for political candidates and the responsibility of those close to them to be aware of potential misconduct. This case highlights the broader issue of cover-ups and denial within the political sphere.