Sen. Ruben Gallego Claims Eric Swalwell 'Deceived' and 'Betrayed' Him, Denies Knowledge of Misconduct

Senator Ruben Gallego, representing Arizona, addressed reporters on Tuesday, revealing that his long-standing friendship with Representative Eric Swalwell clouded his judgment regarding persistent rumors of inappropriate behavior attributed to the California Democrat.

“I was wrong — I deeply, deeply regret that,” Gallego stated during a press conference held on Capitol Hill, reflecting on the impact of their families’ close ties.

Gallego emphasized that he called the press conference to firmly deny any awareness of Swalwell's alleged sexual misconduct. Having served alongside Swalwell in the House for a decade, he asserted, “I had no knowledge of predatory behavior, sexual assault, or harassment” linked to the married father of three.

While acknowledging he had heard for “many years” that Swalwell was “just a flirty, social guy,” Gallego admitted he only recently confronted Swalwell about the allegations after they gained media attention.

“Our families were as close as it gets,” Gallego explained, detailing shared experiences such as their children attending baseball camp together and family dinners. However, he noted that when rumors of misconduct began circulating weeks ago — prior to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle detailing accusations from a former Swalwell staffer — he directly questioned Swalwell, who he claims “lied to me.”

The former aide alleged to both the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN that she had multiple sexual encounters with Swalwell during her employment in his congressional office and accused him of sexually assaulting her twice while she was incapacitated.

A source familiar with her account confirmed the accuracy of the reports to NBC News but requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing legal situation.

Additionally, three other women have come forward with accusations against Swalwell, including claims of unsolicited explicit images. One of these women, Ally Sammarco, corroborated her allegations to NBC News; however, the network has not independently verified the claims made by the other women.

In response to the allegations over the weekend, Swalwell acknowledged having made “mistakes” but vehemently denied the sexual assault claims, labeling them as “flat false.”

During a news conference on Tuesday, another accuser, Lonna Drewes, alleged that Swalwell drugged, choked, and raped her in a California hotel room in 2018.

Swalwell’s attorney, Sara Azari, issued a statement asserting that Swalwell “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault.”

“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 stated.

Gallego reiterated that he never witnessed any inappropriate behavior from Swalwell. “I never saw him engage in any of the predatory behavior, harassment, sexual assault,” he insisted.

“He became very good at being a predator, and he clearly preyed on these women in different positions,” Gallego alleged further.

When contacted for comment regarding Gallego's statements, Swalwell's attorney referred back to earlier remarks made on Tuesday.

Gallego, who chaired Swalwell’s 2020 presidential campaign and is contemplating his own presidential bid for 2028, indicated his willingness to provide any relevant information or records should legal proceedings arise.

Following the Chronicle's publication of its story on Friday, Gallego stated he urged Swalwell to withdraw from the California gubernatorial race. Swalwell ultimately suspended his campaign on Sunday night.

On Monday, just hours after the House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into him, Swalwell declared his resignation from Congress.

He officially resigned on Tuesday.