The political landscape in California shifted again this Tuesday morning. A new woman—the latest to bring forward allegations against Congressman Eric Swalwell—is scheduled to hold a press conference with her legal team in Beverly Hills at 9:30 a.m. It’s a lot to process, really, especially considering everything that has unraveled over the past few days.
Swalwell, who served for 13 years, announced his resignation just as the House Ethics Committee kicked off a formal investigation into his conduct. Or maybe it was slightly before? Regardless, the timing is brutal for his former campaign. The seven-term lawmaker had been a major contender in the California gubernatorial race until he dropped out on Sunday, following reports that he had allegedly assaulted a woman twice—including a former staffer.
Misryoum notes that several other women have since surfaced, claiming he sent unsolicited explicit images or engaged in other forms of misconduct. It’s just grim. The coffee in the office was burnt this morning, bitter and stale, matching the general mood around the newsroom.
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell posted on social media. He maintains he will fight the “serious false allegations” while simultaneously taking responsibility for unspecified mistakes. It’s hard to reconcile that—fighting while admitting to errors—but the fallout is already hitting his district hard. The shock is palpable everywhere.
Constituents across the Bay Area are feeling a mix of anger and total disappointment. I spoke to a few people, or heard them, rather. One person called him a “dirtbag,” while another noted they were seriously considering their vote before everything blew up. They just sound tired.
This whole situation is a massive mess. Whether it’s the ethics investigation or the growing line of accusers, the momentum isn’t stopping anytime soon. It’s likely we’ll hear more by the end of the week, but for now, everyone is just waiting for the press conference in Beverly Hills to see what exactly this new woman has to say. It feels like we are watching a career dissolve in real-time, which is… well, it’s a strange thing to witness.