Senator Rubén Gallego Admits Regret Over Defending Eric Swalwell Amid Sexual Misconduct Scandal

Senator Rubén Gallego Faces Fallout from Eric Swalwell Scandal

Senator Rubén Gallego of Arizona, a prominent Democratic figure and potential presidential candidate in 2028, is now distancing himself from former ally Rep. Eric Swalwell after a wave of sexual misconduct allegations surfaced this month. Swalwell, who dropped out of the California governor’s race amid the scandal, had been a close ally of Gallego, who endorsed his gubernatorial bid, chaired his 2020 presidential campaign, and invested in his AI startup.

Gallego’s relationship with Swalwell has come under scrutiny as the scandal’s impact continues to unfold. In a recent interview with America, Actually, Gallego addressed the allegations and his past support for Swalwell, emphasizing that he had no prior knowledge of the misconduct claims.

Gallego Denies Prior Knowledge of Allegations

In the interview, Gallego was asked directly about his awareness of the allegations against Swalwell, given their close relationship. He responded:

No. No clue, no knowledge of any of the allegations or predatory behavior. That was definitely not what any of us… and look, we’ve all been having conversations since we’re all actually going back…

Gallego clarified that he and others in their circle had been discussing the situation to reflect on what they might have missed:

Who do you mean by we? Friends, members of Congress, other supporters. We’re all talking to each other to see: What did we do wrong? What did we not see?

He further emphasized that he had not heard any rumors or reports of Swalwell’s alleged sexual misconduct or predatory behavior, stating:

Not about the allegations we’re talking about, the sexual assault, the predatory behavior.

Gallego acknowledged the culture in Washington, D.C., where politicians are often perceived as flirtatious but not necessarily inappropriate or predatory toward staff or others:

You know, there is a culture in DC that certainly exists — where not just him, but many other politicians — we heard of someone that’s being, you know, flirty. But never inappropriate, never predatory, never toward staff, and things of that nature.

Gallego’s Regret and Shifting Stance

Gallego’s defense of Swalwell in the past has now become a point of contention. He admitted to regretting his past support, stating that the scale of the allegations has forced a reevaluation of his position. The full interview will air on Saturday, April 25, but will be available earlier for Vox Members. Interested viewers can join on Patreon to receive notifications upon publication.

The interview primarily focuses on broader themes such as immigration reform, outreach to Latino voters, and advocacy for Democrats to engage more with men of color. However, the Swalwell scandal has inevitably become a central topic of discussion.

Swalwell’s Exit from California Governor’s Race

Rep. Eric Swalwell withdrew from the California governor’s race this month following the flood of sexual misconduct allegations. The scandal has had a significant impact on his political career and relationships within the Democratic Party, including his once-close ties with Gallego.

Image Credit: Rubén Gallego at the U.S. Capitol on October 23, 2025. Photo by Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images.