Senate

Gallego: ‘I deeply regret’ Swalwell relationship, ‘I was wrong’

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by Sarah Davis - 04/14/26 3:28 PM ET

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by Sarah Davis - 04/14/26 3:28 PM ET

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Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) expressed regret on Tuesday for his friendship with Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and denied any knowledge of wrongdoing after the California Democrat was accused of several sexual misconduct violations.

“Eric Swalwell lied to all of us … My friendship with him, our family’s friendship together with him, clouded my judgement, and I was wrong. I deeply, deeply regret that,” Gallego told reporters.

Swalwell has since dropped out of California’s gubernatorial race, where he had emerged as the frontrunner candidate, and announced his resignation from Congress.

The lawmaker is being investigated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s (D) office and the House Ethics Committee over allegations that he sexually assaulted a former aide on two occasions and sent unsolicited explicit messages and nude pictures to three other women.

Swalwell has denied the allegations of sexual assault but acknowledged he’s made “mistakes in judgement.” In a Tuesday statement shared with The Hill’s broadcast partner, NewsNation, Swalwell’s attorney Sara Azari called the accusations a “political hit job.”

“These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive — a calculated and transparent political hit job designed to destroy the reputation of a man who has spent twenty years in public service,” Azari wrote in the statement on behalf of the lawmaker.

Gallego told reporters that he and his family were “as close as it gets” and that their kids went to baseball camp and had family meals together. The Arizona Democrat also chaired Swalwell’s 2020 presidential campaign.

The senator said he never saw any indication of improper conduct from Swalwell, but that “we all heard rumors in Washington, D.C., about Eric Swalwell for many years.”

Gallego told reporters on Tuesday that he had asked Swalwell about rumors circulating online several weeks ago and “he lied to me.”

“This man led a double life,” Gallego said. “He lied to us, he lied to his family, he lied to his constituents, some of the most powerful people in this country.

“Even before he ran, he was trusted with some positions that normally you would never think someone like this could do if they’re leading that double life,” the senator continued. “And again, I was manipulated, I was lied to and everyone else was too.”

Gallego also pledged to release any text messages or communications with Swalwell if asked to do so during a legal investigation.

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