Rubén Gallego on why he defended Eric Swalwell — and why he regrets it now

[ad_1] This month, Rep. Eric Swalwell confronted a flood of sexual misconduct allegations , pushing him to drop out of the California governor’s race. However the scandal’s blast radius has additionally ensnared Sen. Rubén Gallego of Arizona, a possible presidential candidate in 2028 and one in every of Swalwell’s shut allies earlier than the tales broke. Gallego had endorsed Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid, chaired his 2020 presidential marketing campaign, and invested in Swalwell’s AI startup.

However now, Gallego is distancing himself from the Congress member and arguing that he had no prior information of the allegations. Gallego has additionally denied that he heard any rumors of Swalwell’s alleged sexual misconduct.

Just lately, I sat down with Gallego for an upcoming episode of America, Truly . The dialog focuses on themes which have made Gallego a nationwide identify: immigration reform, outreach to Latino voters, and his advocacy for Democrats to do extra outreach to males of shade. Nevertheless, contemplating the flood of questions on his shut relationship with Swalwell, and the truth that Gallego has now earned the ire of a number of the voices who helped convey the allegations to mild, I additionally needed to ask him about his former buddy and ally.

Right here’s what he mentioned. The complete episode will air Saturday, April 25, however will likely be out there earlier this week for Vox Members. Join now on Patreon and get notified when it publishes.

I don’t need to go an excessive amount of longer with out asking concerning the current flood of sexual assault allegations in opposition to Congressman Eric Swalwell, who had referred to as you his greatest buddy.

You chaired his 2020 presidential marketing campaign. You have been financially concerned in his AI startup. Did you may have any information of those allegations of misconduct or had you heard rumors of predatory habits on the Hill? I needed to ask you straight.

No. No clue, no information of any of the allegations or predatory habits. That was positively not what any of us… and look, we’ve all been having conversations since we’re all truly going again...

Pals, members of Congress, different supporters. We’re all speaking to one another to see: What did we do flawed? What did we not see?

I need to simply observe up, although, as a result of it appears as if the dimensions of the allegations makes that — I suppose it causes a intestine verify on that, as a result of it appears as if this was a recognized factor amongst some on the Hill. This appears as if, definitely, there was a group of girls who have been organizing round this. You hadn’t heard something about any of that?

Not concerning the allegations we’re speaking about, the sexual assault, the predatory habits. You already know, there's a tradition in DC that definitely exists — the place not simply him, however many different politicians — we heard of somebody that’s being, you recognize, flirty. However by no means inappropriate, by no means predatory, by no means towards employees, and issues of that nature. However look, that is the type of factor that makes all of us relook at what we now have been accepting versus not accepting.

A part of the rationale a few of this has come again on you, although, is that you just went out of your solution to defend Swalwell simply this month, writing lately on X that “ Eric is a fighter .”

Contemplating now what you recognize, or contemplating that you just’re saying you heard rumors about him being flirty, why proactively defend him?

Properly, for 2 causes: [First] as a result of we had heard this, about him, about different politicians, for a very long time, and nothing had ever surfaced, proper? Quantity two, he knew precisely what to say to me, as a result of I had simply gotten off a really arduous 2024 marketing campaign, the place I had a number of the worst issues mentioned about me on commercials that my youngsters need to see.

And [Swalwell’s team] and a few of his employees pushed that button on me. And it was a mistake. I imply, unquestionably, it was a mistake. Let’s be clear: Figuring out now the whole lot I do know of, I'd by no means have performed it. However figuring out now the whole lot I do know, particularly of sexual assault, sexually predatory [behavior], we might not have had the connection that we had.

There have been some which have mentioned that that is additionally a query of your judgment. I needed you to reply to that. I imply, you’ve been type of overtly embracing the query of a 2028 race. What do you say to somebody who seems at this example and sees it as a trigger to query you?

To be 100% sincere, you recognize, I'm extra human first than a politician. And my judgment was off due to many causes. However primary, as a result of I knew this man as a household man, first. We weren’t simply work colleagues. Our households ate dinner collectively; our children have been in camps collectively. And I've to be taught from this, and I'll be taught from this.

However you recognize, for me, it’s not a 2028 query. It’s about what it means to be a greater, first boss in my workplace, and in addition a greater senator to my constituents.