Arizona Democrat Sen. Ruben Gallego was pressed by a reporter Tuesday about his knowledge of sexual misconduct allegations involving former Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell.
Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress Monday, one day after he ended his gubernatorial campaign, over allegations from multiple women were made public, including one from a former staffer accusing him of assaulting her on two occasions. Gallego, who served as chairman of Swalwell’s failed 2020 presidential bid and has been described by Swalwell as his “best friend,” faced questions from reporters about the allegations and his initial defense of Swalwell.
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“We knew each other differently from everyone else. My family and his family were as close as it gets, our kids were in baseball camp together,” Gallego told reporters. “You know, we, we had dinner together as a family. It, it was entirely different, but I think what people understand… when there was rumors going around a couple of weeks ago, not of the folks or whatever in San Francisco Chronicle, I did ask him, and he lied to me.”
The first-term senator claimed to reporters that Swalwell used their personal history to “manipulate” and deceive Gallego into defending him.
“How did you not know about the allegations though, considering you chaired his presidential campaign?” one reporter asked. Swalwell and Gallego took a trip to Qatar in 2021 together, and were photographed riding camels, according to the New York Post.
“This man led a double life. He lied to us, he lied to his family, he lied to his constituents,” Gallego claimed. “It’s the most powerful people in this country, you know, even before he ran, he was trusted with some, some, you know, positions that normally we would never think someone like this could do if they’re leading that double life. And again, I was manipulated, I was lied to, and everyone else was too.”
Gallego said that if he were to be subpoenaed, he would release text messages or other materials requested during legal proceedings.
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