The rapid downfall of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) over sexual misconduct and rape allegations is threatening to claim the future political ambitions of Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) as a casualty.
Gallego is a possible 2028 White House contender for Democrats. But his proximity to Swalwell in the wake of sexual assault accusations from at least five women has forced Gallego into overdrive to distance himself from a disgraced family friend.
“Look, I messed up. I’m human,” Gallego told select reporters in his Washington office Tuesday. “I trusted this man. I trusted him to watch my children. I would watch his children. He knew that I’d just gone through the most bruising campaign, where I was accused of being a mule for the cartel, where my kids were subjected to TV commercials about what an awful human being I was, and he knew how to prey on that. And I was a loyal friend to someone who just was not loyal to me.”
Gallego denied knowing about the allegations, dismissing suggestions that their longtime friendship meant he was aware of Swalwell’s behavior. But he acknowledged he had “heard rumors” over the years, describing Swalwell as “flirty” and living a “double life.”
“You hear this, and then when you’re close to somebody, and you know his wife, you see this, you see that relationship, you know that it maybe isn’t true,” Gallego said. “I asked him about it a few weeks ago when it started coming up online.”
The two men have described one another for years as “best friends.” The pair babysat each other’s children, were pictured together shirtless riding camels during a Middle East trip with their wives, and were financially involved in Swalwell’s AI startup. Gallego, a member of the House prior to becoming a senator in 2024, chaired Swalwell’s 2020 presidential campaign.
That closeness of their friendship was also evident earlier this month when allegations against Swalwell gained traction on social media.
“When you are in first place, is when they target you,” Gallego wrote on X. “Eric is a fighter and he will win the Governors race.”
Gallego later apologized for the defense, saying their “friendship clouded my judgment, and I was wrong.”
Swalwell did not respond to a request for comment about Gallego’s remarks.
Not everyone is buying Gallego’s explanation, however.
“During the time that you were roommates, are we to seriously believe that you didn’t know or witness anything about the ‘double life,’” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) wrote on X.
Earlier, Lawler had called on Gallego to release all of his text messages and other communications with Swalwell to prove he truly was unaware of his friend’s misconduct.
Gallego said he’d be willing to release private conversations with Swalwell if requested through “legal proceedings,” such as in response to subpoenas or congressional ethics investigations. The House Ethics Committee is investigating the claims against Swalwell, some of which are from former staffers.
“I trusted him with my family, and it hurts,” Gallego said. “It hurts, the fact that he hurt a lot of people. And it pisses me off that now we all have to deal with all of his BS. His family, the poor victims that are still going to have to seek justice. And, of course, this is just — this is a horrible situation.”
WATCH LIVE: NEW SWALWELL ACCUSER DETAILS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CLAIMS AT PRESS CONFERENCE
In a resignation statement Monday, Swalwell said he was “deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past” but added he will “fight the serious, false allegation made against me.”