No elected Democrat should be forced to resign unless convicted of a felony.

[dalton99a]

Republicans have a president with 34 felonies who remains in office and who is busy erecting monuments to himself all over Washington

[demmiblue]

1. I don't agree. n/t

[Mossfern]

3. Al Franken

Need I say more?
The timing of this is suspect.

[dalton99a]

5. +1. Democrats need fighters who win elections, not candidates for sainthood

[EdmondDantes_]

34. A guy who had 8 separate women accuse him isn't a great example

That's a pattern of behavior. And it wasn't until the 7th that there was a serious push for him to resign.

[LisaL]

48. Most of them remained anonymous as I recall.

And they all went away right after he resigned. Other than the original photo (purpose of which clearly was a joke as far as I am concerned) I also don't recall any evidence provided. Did anything good come out of it?

[SonOfNebanaube]

64. what happens

When we find out that Trump offered them fuck you money?

[EdmondDantes_]

71. What happens when we find out it was Martians? Same likelihood

Don't invent conspiracies.

Can you provide an example of 8 women who accused a man who was later found to have been the victim of a frame job?

[Historic NY]

76. Never heard their names uttered and Franken never was give a chance to clear his name

Gilbrand ran with it w/o any investigation what so ever,

[link: https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/07/defending-al-franken-for-real/|

[Earthrise]

58. Franken was 100% faithful to his wife and he had one FOX-affiliated accuser

Last edited Sat Apr 11, 2026, 06:11 PM - Edit history (1)

showing group photos of him in which he was pointing to her breasts in a clear attempt to be comic.

Swalwell has admitted that he's cheated on his wife and he now has 4 women speaking out about being sexually harassed - they are reporting specific details about repeated occasions. The woman who is accusing him of rape has contemporaneous corroboration of the event - she reported sexual abuse to a health care provider within a week of the event.

I love Al and I'm still angry that Dem leadership believed the single, weak accuser with clear ties to the Republican party.

Katy Porter is Elizabeth Warren's protege. I trust her judgment about the accusers. I do not believe she would play this dirty of a trick to get the seat. Katy will be brilliant as a Governor.

In terms of political fallout, Swalwell will be replaced by a Dem house member whether it's Newsom's choice or in an election.

I get that men can have their live's ruined by false allegations. As additional evidence is being released - including sexual texts from Swalwell to his women staff members - it looks, to me, more and more like the case made against Mario Cuomo.

[SonOfNebanaube]

65. AI could have been hallucinating.

[EdmondDantes_]

72. Absolutely false. Franken had 8 accusers.

https://www.twincities.com/2017/12/07/al-franken-sexual-misconduct-allegations-timeline-senator-minnesota/

Also nobody accused him of cheating on his wife. He was accused of groping. That Franken defenders have to misrepresent the facts doesn't help the case.

[Earthrise]

73. I don't have a subscription, so I can't get past the first paragraph.

I'll admit my opinion must've been misinformed - and apologize - because I literally didn't know about him have 8 accusers.

[Earthrise]

74. Agreed that no one accused Al Franken of cheating on his wife - and he said he hadn't.

Swalwell admitted he had cheated, which makes the accusers' cases more believable to me.

[tinrobot]

80. To be fair Franken was only pressured to resign. He wasn't "forced."

He could have stayed in office if he had wanted.

I wish he had because I think the pressure would have blown over eventually.

[Wifes husband]

28. Me neither

Democrats should try to stand for something. What republicans will stand for should not be a benchmark for us.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. lol no thanks

not a fan of "republicans hold themselves to lower standards so we should too"

[Kid Berwyn]

4. Accusations should be investigated.

But barring proof, a previously “repressed memory” of wrongdoing is no reason to destroy a dedicated progressive and liberal Democratic Congressman.

[Scrivener7]

7. Who claimed repressed memories?

[Kid Berwyn]

17. The accuser

I saw her interview on television news program, her identity hidden.

Going by my memory: She said she had no conscious memory, but remembered details as she was recently prompted by others, including the interviewer.

[Scrivener7]

24. There is some documentation. Maybe that particular accuser was not the one who provided it.

[Kid Berwyn]

38. TV coverage went from accusations to rape PDQ

Here’s an interview from CNN — the clip is from 20 minutes ago, but I recognize the woman in shadow from the close up on her hands — seems like the footage was the same yesterday.

[Scrivener7]

41. I just watched that interview. I agree it's problematic, but she didn't say she had repressed memories.

She implied she was drugged and she only remembered flashes of what happened.

[Kid Berwyn]

53. Right, the memories she couldn't remember until prompted.

Other than that, why should her word be sufficient to destroy Swalwell?

[Scrivener7]

59. I don't think that's what she said.

I didn't hear her say anything about memories that returned with prompting

What she said was that she remembered only flashes of what happened.

I don't think most are going to go on her word alone. There are others coming forward. And we can reverse your question to ask why should his word be sufficient to let him get away with ruining her life?

More will likely come out on this, I think. At the very least, HIS words admit that something happened, which shows a profound lack of judgment if you want to be a governor.

[Kid Berwyn]

66. Others coming forward don't necessarily mean he's guilty.

Until there’s proof or an admission of guilt, I will stand with Swalwell. It’s a question of loyalty to a pol with a 20-year career of public service.

Unlike so many political leaders, Swalwell stood up to Trump, Bondi, Patel and the rest of the traitors. The billionaires behind them can afford to do anything crooked under the Sun, including manufacturing witnesses.

[dalton99a]

8. And people deserve their day in court.

[Kid Berwyn]

18. Absolutely.

Whatever happened to Al Franken?

[SocialDemocrat61]

21. No one accused Franken of a crime

so he didn't need a day in court.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

22. Started a podcast, did a couple tours, hosted the Daily Show, acted in a Netflix movie.

[SocialDemocrat61]

23. Moved to NYC and bought

a lovely brownstone on the East Side too.

[LisaL]

49. So in the end we lost a great and effective politician.

Did we gain anything out of it?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

50. Yep we got a much more effective and progressive senator in that seat.

[LeftInTX]

20. This case involves text messages and pictures...

[Bluetus]

55. If there was strong evidence all along, why was it not charged until now?

The timing of these things does reflect badly on the accusers and our system.

[Wiz Imp]

56. Allegedly.

I'm not aware that any texts or pictures have been released publicly. If they do indeed exist, they need to be released.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

60. Are you serious?!

People are referring to texts and pictures that haven't even been released publicly?

Unbelievable, and yet, not.

[LeftInTX]

68. Are you asking to see his "thing"?

Post by @adamparkhomenko

View on Threads

?xmt=AQF0yANmKVaF-X_PWhprQM7Mo4_fMSGIMfZ0lJypxtfTXpCU4-HkG069737JvAZwPOSEXQsi&slof=1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Parkhomenko


CNN also reviewed messages between her and Swalwell, including a photo he sent her that matches footage of him during a CNN interview in her city on the night they met in person.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs

[Wiz Imp]

69. ???? The CNN article refers to a specific photo (implied to be from an interview). Why not release that?

CNN also reviewed messages between her and Swalwell, including a photo he sent her that matches footage of him during a CNN interview in her city on the night they met in person.

Why not release the messages? I'm sorry, but "just trust us, we at CNN have seen them" is not good enough. If they have the evidence, then release it. Names and other sensitive info can be redacted to protect privacy. Until evidence is produced publicly, it's an unproven allegation.

(I'm assuming CNN does have the so called "proof", so in my mind, with such explosive allegations, journalistic standards demand they release evidence of that "proof". )

[LeftInTX]

70. The San Antonio Express-News has similar of Tony Gonzales. They haven't released images.

It comes a point where no one will believe the media anyway.

[Scrivener7]

6. I suspect many men will agree while most women will not. I don't agree.

I was waiting for more information and more has come out which is damning.

[FloridaBlues]

9. If they force him from congress they better take a few republicans with him.

[SheltieLover]

10. Starting with slobby!

Wtf. Why did these women accuse him now? I'm not saying he is innocent, this just reeks of rat fuckery to me.

[dalton99a]

14. +1. The felony threshold should help prevent blackmail, ratfucking and premature suicide among Democrats

[tulipsandroses]

11. Don't agree with that. Andrew Cuomo - prime example - He needed to go.

As far as Swalwell - I think he should drop his bid for governor for the sake of the people of California, he should not let his ego get in the way.
Just as Tim Walz dropped his bid when he realized that the fraud accusations would be a distraction.
I don't think Swalwell should resign his seat just yet. If evidence comes out - texts, photographs - that proves he committed a crime or was a serial sexual harasser like Cuomo, then he should resign. If it turns out that he's another man that can't keep it in his pants - that is between him and his wife, and he should not resign.
Either way, these allegations should be taken seriously and should be investigated.

The timing is suspicious, but doesn't mean there isn't there there. Think Christine Blasey Ford. - Republicans probably thought the timing was suspicious then too.
We know both parties do opposition research. So even if republican opposition research found these women, doesn't necessarily mean they are lying.

[LeftInTX]

19. Swalwell, is dropping his bid. His ACT Blue was turned off. However, there is no reason to resign from Congress.

Politically, he really needed to drop out of the governor's race, for the sake for the race! There are 20 Dems in the race and they are in a jungle primary. Allow someone else to take the lead because we can't afford to have a Republican governor. He will still be on the ballot, but he won't have ads. If he stays and fights, that means more votes taken from a more qualified candidate. (Actually he is highly qualified, but the Dem power is diluted on this ticket!)

[tulipsandroses]

26. Thanks for the update. Glad he decided to do the right thing

If there is proof that he sent pictures of his junk to a staffer and requested pics from the staffer, I don't see a way for him to effectively continue in congress either. Yeah I know the party of " family values, that claims to protect girls and women, does not care that trump is president. It is not something I want to emulate.

[LeftInTX]

27. Resigning from congress, would mean a special election.

His voice will not be effective as it was, but his vote matters.

[IbogaProject]

78. The Governor can appoint a replacement to serve until the election

Either a special or just let the seat turn over during the normal election cycle.

[Wifes husband]

29. Well said

[D_Master81]

12. Not just 34 felonies

But also DOZENS on women who accused of inappropriate conduct and an adjudicated rapist.

[dalton99a]

13. And a proud self-admitted pussy grabber.

[Kid Berwyn]

25. Admitted "sexual predator" -- Live!

Donald John Trump of Queens NY admitted to being a sexual predator on the Howard Stern program in 2006.

Reminds me of how he mouthed, "fuck you," to the Detroit autoworker with integrity who called him a "pedophile protector."

Jeffrey Epstein met his match and wrote:

“I told everyone from day one. evil beyond belief, mad, ” Epstein wrote of Trump in March 2018. “he feels alone. and is nuts !!!”

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/14/politics/epstein-emails-trump-kfile

[Passages]

15. Every person living in America has a right to due process.

Until then, they should not be subject to "damage control" hysteria.

Verifying accusations is not undercutting victims either.

[travelingthrulife]

32. Well said.

[Clouds Passing]

16. No more Al Frankening!

[RandomNumbers]

30. Rec, but to be clear, the accusations against Swalwell appear WAY worse

than the accusations against Franken. (what I remember anyway)

Assuming some truth to it - Swalwell should help make arrangements to ensure safe passage of his seat to another Dem, and resign at the appropriate time to make that happen. And get some help for his issues.

[Clouds Passing]

67. Also Cuomo and Weiner were righteously removed. If Eric did those things, the bye bye.

[Celerity]

31. sorry, but I absolutely disagree NT

[City Lights]

33. AMEN! nt

[RandiFan1290]

35. Obama fired Shirley Sherrod

and the accusation wasn't even true.


ETA: republicons and their 'centrist' allies prefer the status quo.

[Jilly_in_VA]

36. In this day of AI, deepfakes, and all the other internet crap

EVERYTHING has to be investigated carefully before you start calling for someone's head. You don't know what's real any more.

[EdmondDantes_]

37. No thanks. I support victims

Not just when it's against an easy villain, not when it's just in my political interests.

[Martin68]

39. I disagree. A sexual abuser has no place in the Democratic Party. We are better than that. We actually have principles.

[LisaL]

46. Having principles is all well and good,

but right now we don't have any power in any of the branches of government. So what did these principles have gotten us?

[Martin68]

62. You think we should become anti-democratic fraudsters and bigots like the MAGAts because that's the only way

to win? I disagree. We will win in the end without sinking to their level. If we sink to their level there's no point in winning because we end up the same. Camus wrote that if you believe the end justifies the means, your end will be totally corrupted along the way. He had experience fighting the Nazis, so he knew what he was talking about.

[ABC123Easy]

40. 100% Agree!

Let's not Al Franken ourselves again. This isn't a fair fight.

Forcing out our best candidates is NOT how we defeat the GOP. These allegations should be investigated of course but in America, we're not guilty until proven otherwise.

Look at Tim Walz....dropped out of the governor's race because of a fake scandal the GOP made up! Let's not hurt ourselves ant longer.

[dalton99a]

42. +1. Walz should have stayed

[ABC123Easy]

43. Agreed

[justaprogressive]

44. Repubs NEVER RESIGN FFS!

Double-standard per usual!

[onenote]

45. What about George Santos. Should Democrats opposed expelling him from Congress

prior to his being convicted of a felony?

[republianmushroom]

47. Agree

[berksdem]

51. BS

If this were a rethug we would all be calling for his removal. Cant have it both ways all the time.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

52. The voters might make that decision for the office holder. NT

[WizumbODaSage]

54. I Understand Your Point But THIS Democrat Has Been Taped to Every Repubs Bullseye For Years

.... and for whatever combination of perfidies, mental challenges, losses of perspective, and mental pathologies which would explain HOW he would commit such actions post Clinton, post Weiner, post Spitzer. The finding THAT he committed such actions(not proved but oh hell what LONG road & we could use the next six months backing someone else!) requires too much sturm und drang for a party in this condition. Due process is due process but we don't need to accompany Eric to the door here.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

57. And let's put an end to the damn circular firing squad.

[Ars Longa]

61. Rep. Tony-Gonzales TX is staying in congress this year, but will not seek re-election.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/tony-gonzales-scandal-deepens-as-new-allegations-reveal-pattern-of-explicit-messages-to-staffers/ar-AA20hgOx

Although it differs from Swalwells case, in that Gonzalez does admit to wrong doing, and
it is unclear if legal charges will be forwarded...

Swalwell should indeed drop out of the Gov race.
ES has maintained he is Innocent of the charges. If he wants to stay in Congress for 9 months,
that is, for the time being, within his rights.
The very serious allegations, and their validity, need thourough vetting before removing him!
(re; see Al Franken)

[LeftInTX]

81. It took Gonzales quite awhile to admit anything!!!!

Finally, when they had an image of him an Regina together arm in arm, he confessed.

[Skittles]

63. I disagree, I KNOW we Dems are better than that

I do agree, however, that it must be showcased just how hypocritical it is that the "party of family values" has a 34 time felon sex offender seditionist mass murderer as "president".

[Peacetrain]

75. THIS!!!!!!!

Well said...

[Boo1]

77. Not interested in protecting

anybody. There are plenty of Democrats to replace him.

[duckworth969]

79. It's a political hit

Too close to the election to think otherwise.

[TexasBushwhacker]

82. Swalwell is no longer electable - PERIOD

Swalwell, Ye and Thurmond need to drop out now. In a week, recalibrate and 2 more should drop out. Having 8 Democratic candidates still running with the primary so close could very well lead to the top 2 candidates for the GE being Republicans.

Newsom needs to endorse someone by May 15th, if not sooner.