Ruben Gallego condemns former friend Eric Swalwell after sexual assault allegations

PHOENIX — U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego renewed his criticism of his former friend Eric Swalwell on Tuesday, saying the California politician misled him and others.

“I called this today because there’s just a lot of rumors going around about me, about my family,” he told reporters Tuesday. “My friendship with him, our family’s friendship together with him, clouded my judgment, and I was wrong — I deeply, deeply regret that.”

The press conference came after Gallego spent the past week distancing himself from Swalwell. The break came after a former Swalwell aide told the San Francisco Chronicle that Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent.

The same day the story was published, Gallego said he took the allegations seriously, calling Swalwell’s alleged actions indefensible.

“I regret having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired,” Gallego said. “I am withdrawing my endorsement of Congressman Swalwell, effective immediately.”

I’ve read the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting and I take it seriously.

What is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed.

I regret having come to his defense on social media prior…

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) April 10, 2026

Swalwell has announced he is leaving Congress. He was among a group of prominent Democrats hoping to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose term is expiring and who cannot seek reelection. He has also denied the sexual abuse allegations.

What did Ruben Gallego say about Eric Swalwell?

On Tuesday, Gallego told reporters on Capitol Hill that the women who came forward to accuse Swalwell of sexual misconduct are courageous and deserve justice.

“To be clear, again, I also had no knowledge of predatory behavior, sexual assault or harassment,” Gallego said.

He also said he heard rumors about Swalwell for many years and heard his friend was “flirty,” but added that Swalwell persuaded him to believe that the sexual assault allegations were smears.

Gallego also said Swalwell played upon Gallego’s past experiences being attacked on the campaign trail to drum up sympathy.

“When I asked him about some of these rumors that were starting on the internet … a few weeks back, he also denied it and said, ‘The same thing … they were trying to do to you in 2024, is the same thing they’re trying to do to me,'” Gallego said.

He said political operatives are using “this horrible situation” to spread lies about him and his family in an effort to damage his reputation.

“I let this man into my family. I trusted this man, and — through some of the hardest things I’ve ever had to deal with, I trusted him,” Gallego said.

“And it hurts. 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 B.S.: his family, the poor victims that are still gonna have to seek justice, and, of course, this is just a horrible situation.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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