Democratic lawmakers deal with fallout from Swalwell scandal

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Apr 15, 2026

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Democratic lawmakers are facing questions about ties to disgraced ex-Rep. Eric Swalwell, who was able to rise through the political ranks even as some say his ugly behavior to women was considered an open secret on Capitol Hill.

New York Rep. Dan Goldman of Manhattan and Rep. Josh Riley, who represents a Catskills district, both returned campaign donations from Swalwell’s political action committee as outrage over Swalwell spread this week.

Rep. Tom Suozzi of Long Island hasn’t yet said if he will return similar donations from the Swalwell-led group that mostly backed fellow moderate Democrats.

Swalwell, who represented a Bay Area district and was a front-runner in the governor’s race, resigned in disgrace Tuesday amid several credible accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse, claims he denies. A new accuser came forward Tuesday to claim that he drugged and raped her in 2018.

The scandal that quickly took down a Democratic rising star amounted to a reckoning of sorts for Congress, especially since it came the same day Rep. Gonzales, R-Texas, stepped down as well amid claims he had an affair with an aide who later killed herself by self-immolation.

But some said the twin resignations came far too late and only prove how easy it is for powerful and predatory bosses to roam free on Capitol Hill and in American politics in general.

“Today was an important turning point,” said Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., a leading progressive. “That it should — that abuse of power — should never be accepted, and above all, in public office.”

“Accountability can happen. We can hold men accountable when they abuse women, and we’re going to do more of it,” said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., who chairs the Democratic Women’s Caucus.

So far, there has been no smoking gun implicating any of the New York lawmakers or other top Democrats with Swalwell’s sketchy behavior, let alone his alleged crimes.

But Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a close friend and political ally of Swalwell, is scrambling to explain their close friendship.

“This man lived a double life,” Gallego, who has spoken about running for president in 2028, said after pulling the plug on his previous support for Swalwell. “I was manipulated, I was lied to, and everyone else was, too.”

The initial allegations against Swalwell date back to 2019 and 2024. It is against the House Code of Conduct for any member to have a sexual relationship with their staff members, like some but not all of Swalwell’s accusers.

Following the #MeToo movement, the House changed its rules to require annual trainings on sexual harassment and discrimination for members. It’s also sought to speed up the notoriously slow process by which the Ethics Committee probes allegations and comes up with recommended punishments.

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