In Mary Shelley’s classic, Dr. Frankenstein eventually stares at his own creation and wonders why he ever brought such a thing into the world. This week, Representative Eric Swalwell finds himself in a similar, if more politically precarious, position. As a leading Democratic candidate for governor of California, he is now watching his support vanish. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Adam Schiff, and even close associate Senator Ruben Gallego have all retracted their endorsements.
Misryoum reporting notes that multiple women have come forward with allegations of sexual assault and other potential criminal acts. One former staffer alleged that she was raped twice by Swalwell while she was intoxicated, and another described a struggle that left her bruised and bleeding. The accounts, if true, paint a picture of a man operating with a sense of impunity. And actually—it is difficult to reconcile this with the politician who once loudly demanded total transparency from others during past political scandals.
It is worth remembering that Swalwell wasn’t always a liability. For years, he was a fixture in Washington, often utilized as a combative “attack dog” by the Democratic establishment. Back when the story about his connection to an alleged Chinese spy, Fang Fang, first broke, Nancy Pelosi famously shielded him. Misryoum analysis indicates that she dismissed concerns about his presence on the House Intelligence Committee, labeling attempts to remove him as mere political theater.
There is a strange, sharp smell of ozone in the air—or maybe it’s just the tension in the halls of Congress as everyone scrambles for the exits.
The hypocrisy here is hard to ignore, at least for those who recall his aggressive stance during the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. Swalwell was quick to argue that allegations against Kavanaugh pointed to obvious guilt, yet now he is demanding due process and privacy for himself. He even used a cease-and-desist letter to block the release of his own FBI files, which is quite a shift from his previous “full disclosure” rhetoric regarding other public figures.
It is a messy, complicated situation that feels like it’s still unfolding. Former allies like Gallego, who once traveled with Swalwell on a luxury trip to Qatar, are now distancing themselves as if they were never in the same room. It leaves one wondering how the political machine functions—or fails to function—when its own creations suddenly become too radioactive to touch. The irony remains that while Swalwell faces these grave allegations, the political landscape in California simply shifts toward other candidates, leaving the original questions about accountability mostly unanswered.
Ultimately, as the support structures collapse, the question isn’t just about Swalwell. It’s about the people who spent years building him up.