Rubén Gallego on why he defended Eric Swalwell - and why he regrets it now
vox.com • • general
Key Points:
- Rep. Eric Swalwell withdrew from the California governor’s race following numerous sexual misconduct allegations, which have also implicated his close ally, Sen. Rubén Gallego of Arizona, a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
- Gallego, who previously endorsed Swalwell and was involved in his 2020 presidential campaign and AI startup, now denies any prior knowledge or rumors of Swalwell’s alleged predatory behavior.
- In an interview, Gallego acknowledged the broader culture of inappropriate behavior in Washington but insisted he never witnessed or heard of Swalwell’s misconduct, expressing regret for defending him publicly.
- Gallego admitted his judgment was flawed due to his personal relationship with Swalwell and emphasized his commitment to learning from the situation to improve his leadership and service.
- Despite the controversy, Gallego downplayed the impact on his potential 2028 presidential ambitions, focusing instead on being a better senator and employer.
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