Coming after California or one of our own? Californians actually want to see your receipts...

[PeaceWave]

A funny thing happened along the way to what should have been a simple anonymous take down of a sitting California Congressman running for Governor. Which is to say that an apparent attempt to effectively claim ownership over the state's election for its highest office didn't go quite as planned. Californians woke up Saturday morning to suspiciously timed scandalous accusations directed at Eric Swalwell. Californians' response was not a rush to judgement though. Far from it. Californians wanted to know where all this was coming from.

Californians don't convict our own in the court of public opinion. We're too smart and too thoughtful to engage in witch hunts. Talk to friends and neighbors here or perhaps the barista at your favorite coffee shop and, over the last 24 hours, you'll hear the same refrain. Californians want to hear and see not just accusations, but actual facts. And, we want it not conducted under dimmed lights, but rather all out in the open, preferably under oath. Fiat Lux, as the seal of the University of California reads...Let there be light. Or, as the kids now might say, bring your receipts.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. .

[leftstreet]

2. Oh please n/t

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. The editorial we is doing a lot of heavy lifting

[EdmondDantes_]

3. So those receipts

You mean like telling people about it at the time? Or maybe you mean the inappropriate texts? Or that multiple independent women accused him?Or that his staff thinks it checked out?

Or how about the receipt he brought in knowing exactly who to send cease and desists to in the middle of the night? If I was told someone I worked with accused me of assault I wouldn't have any idea who it was. Kind of awkward that he did.

[vanlassie]

4. You think Swalwell would have no idea

“Who” was fomenting a smear? Seriously?

[EdmondDantes_]

7. Again, if some unknown person accused me of rape, I'd have no idea

Would you know if an unnamed coworker were to accuse you?

If there was some cadre of employees conspiring against him and he knew, why not fire them before this point? Don't say he's too loyal to do that since he's apologized to his wife, so loyalty doesn't seem to be all that important.

[vanlassie]

9. This is a timed attack. This has Roger Stone vibes.

It’s a textbook chapter in the GOP Book of Dirty Tricks.

I’m not saying you’re naive… but.

[Jose Garcia]

10. Except that Swalwell's demise helps Democrats and hurts Republicans

[EdmondDantes_]

11. Conspiracy nonsense

I'm not saying you don't believe victims who have corroboration because you are letting politics blind you, but...

[vanlassie]

12. Victims only come out at the oddest times.

If you think dumping Al Franken the was it was done by DEMS was the way, you do you.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. "Victims only come out at the oddest times." Half the reason they do is because of sentiments like this one.

[EdmondDantes_]

17. Yes, like Christine Blasey Ford right?

Took her years until he was nominated for the Supreme Court. Obviously to avoid being hypocritical she must have been a conspiracy cooked up by some shady Democrat right?

Yes Democrats dumped Franken because 8 different women accused him of inappropriate behavior. Several of them had corroboration from people they told at the time, and at least one was a Democratic staffer.

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

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42258477

You can't link the other 7 women to a conspiracy run by Roger Stone. But you can claim it was all Roger Stone's fault if you need to do that because you can't believe victims because the accused is a "good" guy with the right political affiliation.

[mr715]

18. It is easier when good guys are just good

and bad guys are just bad.

Sometimes, sadly, "good guys" aren't really good.

It is important we view our elected representatives as expendable. Or at least transactional. There are a lot of skeletons in a lot of closets amongst the ambitious elite. If I don't know, shame on them. Once I find out and I excuse it? Shame on me.

Roger Stone? Red herring. Misdirect. As relevant as the type of liquor used to date rape somebody.

[mopinko]

13. if this was a 'timed attack' it's pretty ill timed.

the rt time wd b after he won the primary, not while ppl can make a different choice.
i’d say that’s the timing the survivors wanted. while there’s still time to avoid disaster.
that’s y they came forward NOW.

[mr715]

16. 100%

This is a good thing for the Democratic brand. We do not elect rapists.

[mr715]

14. No

This helps Democrats. This hurts Swalwell (and his family).

If this were a dirty trick, the simplest agent would be Steyer or Porter.

This is an arrogant man getting taken down by his arrogance.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. Then

Last edited Sun Apr 12, 2026, 06:22 PM - Edit history (1)

Then why is Alvin Bragg, the district attorney who secured 34 felony convictions against Trump, investigating him and setting up a tip line for alleged victims to come forward.

[duckworth969]

5. Californians decide for themselves

No ones call but theirs.

[Sympthsical]

6. I'm a Californian and having the opposite experience

Everyone I've spoken to in my Bay Area circle of friends is disgusted with the man.

One imagines the anecdotal will succumb to polling in short order.

[Lifeafter70]

8. I'm a californian too.

And there were 3 other supporters for him in my household. But no longer.
We all believe the women.
Time for him to tell the truth and move on.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. SIGH

So the vague online rumors about Mr. Swalwell were easier for supporters to dismiss as dirty politics — until the accounts landed with searing detail.

They described a former staff member who said Mr. Swalwell’s assault left her with bruises and vaginal bleeding. Another woman said he had touched her thigh and tried to kiss her during a night of heavy drinking together that ended in a hotel room. Two other women said Mr. Swalwell sent them unsolicited photos of his penis.

When Mr. Swalwell learned what the news outlets planned to publish, he scrambled early Friday morning to call leaders of the groups that had endorsed him, according to two people familiar with the calls. The forthcoming news reports, he told them, were false.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/us/california-democrats-eric-swalwell.html

[Kid Berwyn]

20. Time for openness is now.

Accused.
Accuser.
Facts.
Evidence.

And not in, nor necessarily, that order.

[Torchlight]

23. Tough old world when people hold different opnions than ours.

But it rarely means they're convictiing anyone... jsut holding different opnions. It's a tough old world.

Piecewave: Californians don't convict our own in the court of public opinion. We're too smart...