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The Swalwell Files

Eric Swalwell’s implosion, as sudden as it was overdue, is less a scandal than a reminder that Washington’s old boys’ club still confuses proximity to power with immunity from consequence.

Eric Swalwell
Another prevailing question: How did his alleged private darkness remain hidden during his very public ascent? Swalwell’s swift rise in the party was facilitated by powerful allies, including fellow Californians Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi, who lent him their credibility. Photo: John Lamparski/Getty Images
Leigh Ann Caldwell
April 19, 2026

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In the week since California congressman Eric Swalwell resigned amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct including rape, his once-promising career has collapsed with startling speed. He has lost his job, his friends on the Hill, his supporters, and any plausible path back to elected office.