Swalwell staffers issue statement standing by accusers

[surfered]

18 hrs 8 mins ago
Mary Perkins
Huffington Post

Swalwell Staffers Issue Statement Standing By Accusers, Call Allegations 'Abhorrent'
Staffers from Rep. Eric Swalwell's congressional office and campaign released an unsigned joint statement pledging support for the women who have come forward alleging assault and misconduct, multiple news outlets reported.
“We stand with our former colleague, and the other women who have come forward,” the statement said. “We believe you should stand with them, too. The behavior detailed in these reports is abhorrent, beneath the dignity of those serving in public office and betrays the trust of all Californians.”
The statement comes a day after bombshell reports from The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN with multiple women accusing the lawmaker of sexual assault and misconduct.
In a video message posted late Friday, Swalwell denied the allegations, calling them "false" and said that he had "made mistakes in judgment" in the past.

[Lovie777]

1. Unsigned................

[Kid Berwyn]

22. The most important point.

So. Who, really, is accusing Swalwell?

[LudwigPastorius]

23. Unsigned because they want to keep their jobs long enough to find another one.

Retaliation by firing is a thing.

[Torchlight]

36. What do you make of that?

I infer a desire for personal safety.

[hamsterjill]

2. If this is legitimate, and I question that

Then any staffer who knew these things were happening and did not report them is complicit in all of this.

[karynnj]

8. Until they say more, they might not have known

Or they might have been in the position that the former staffer told them but specifically did not want them to report it and said she would not stand behind it. I could understand that she might have been concerned by having gotten drunk and because she may have initially been happy that he was attracted by her. She might have blamed herself.

As to the other things, it could well be they didn't know the scope of it.

At this point we don't know ... and there are many staffers etc saying they are not surprised With this, it seems to be unsigned and it doesn't even say how many .... It could be two.

[hamsterjill]

12. Please note the wording in my post:

"Then any staffer who knew these things were happening"...

[karynnj]

14. I did see that and should have referred to it

I was trying to add that there could be a grey area between "knowing" and "not knowing" and as she was a former colleague, there was a possibility of her telling someone in confidence. What would be the right thing to do in that case?

[hamsterjill]

15. If she told someone in confidence, if that person was another staffer,

Then in MY opinion...again MY opinion, which I'm entitled to have - they had a duty to report it so that no other staffer might have been assaulted. I mean, if Swalwell was a known assailant, then he should have been turned in to protect other staffers.

[Thanks for the clarification about your reply. I appreciate that and understand better now. ]

[karynnj]

26. Thanks for your response because I genuinely had no idea what would

be the right thing to do. It makes sense that they should have considered they needed to protect other future victims. Have always enjoyed your posts as they always were very informative.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

10. Agree.

This whole thing stinks.

[hamsterjill]

13. It's beginning to sound desperate.

Staffers? Unsigned? Non-specific? I mean, what does this really accomplish other than to solidify the opinions of those who have already decided that Swalwell did this?

Makes me wonder about the integrity of any of the "staff" that: (a) knew of specific instances of this nature and didn't report them, and (b) continued to work for someone who they obviously despised.

I'm not defending Swalwell. He may be the biggest asshole on the planet. But an unsigned press release that does not name the people involved is not evidence of anything.

[Sympthsical]

11. The likeliest version of events

His womanizing has been known for years. Maybe not on CNN, but people involved in politics in the Bay Area have always whispered about him.

But an actual assault allegation is very different from cheating. Cheating a lot of people in politics will overlook. The nature of the recent allegation mixed with general grossness with sending sexual material to multiple women. Nah. They're out.

The tell is in the speed with which everyone bolted - with those closest to him vacating the fastest.

They knew. Maybe not the details or the specific assault situation, but they knew there was potentially something lurking. You don't have half a bag already packed if you don't.

The fact they all find this extremely credible right out of the gate says it all.

[RandomNumbers]

21. Your last line, 100%

"The fact they all find this extremely credible right out of the gate says it all."

If instead there were a bunch of people saying, "wait! we just can't believe this! Not Eric!! He's nothing like that!!" .... but doesn't seem to be anyone saying that.

It's sad when an otherwise (seemingly) decent guy lets his dick take over like that. Probably with the help of booze ... but based on these allegations, he has had a problem for years and should have faced up to it instead of pretending it didn't happen or that it was okay.

[spooky3]

28. I feel sorry for his small children. Nt

[magicarpet]

31. Yes,.. this will turn those young lives upside down.

[OGBuzz]

3. Perhaps unfortunately, perhaps unfairly, perhaps 100% rat fuckery.....

but Swalwell's political career is over. Remember Al Franken. Several of Swalwell's Democrat colleagues are already calling for him to quit the gubernatorial race and resign from the House, without any due process. In the meantime, a convicted sexual assaulter, accused rapist, and possible pedophile is sitting in the Oval Office, and the party of family values could care less..

[EdmondDantes_]

4. Due process is a legal term, not a political one

Then there's 4 women with corroboration and I can't think of any examples of a situation where that's later been proven false. He's already admitted he had to apologize to his wife and he knew who to send cease and desist letters to indicating he knows who he acted inappropriately against.

Believe victims.

Nobody here thinks Trump should be in office, a bunch of Democrats have said Trump should be removed from office, we literally tried to impeach him twice.

[OGBuzz]

7. I do believe the victims but you have to admit that the timing is suspicious.

In any case, Swalwell's political career is over, and Trump is still president after being accused by at least 28 women of sexual assault.
MAGAts have a totally different idea of morality and justice.

[EdmondDantes_]

16. Was it suspicious that Christine Blasey Ford came forward when Kavanaugh was nominated?

Or is she believable?

There is no convenient time because victims process an assault differently and as we've seen here, a whole lot people will leap to defend a man and seek any excuse to not believe victims. Shockingly seeing a man who abused someone reaching to get more power might cause some victims to gather their strength and willingness to come forward.

[MagickMuffin]

35. Was it suspicious that Christine Blasey Ford came forward when Kavanaugh was nominated?

I believe there is a big difference in the accusations.

Christine Blasey Ford came forward when Kavanaugh was being considered for the US Supreme Court. He wasn't running for an office, no campaigning (except for dark money) just sitting under oath answering questions.
There wasn't any reason for Christine Blasey Ford to come forward until it was absolutely necessary to expose Kavanaugh for his behavior, because he would be making decisions about women while sitting on the highest Court.

She testified under oath, as did Kavanaugh. republicans protect their sexual predators, so, Kavanaugh was confirmed by the senate. No one else got to vote for him.

The accusations by the Eric Swalwell case so far is only accusations. No one has testified under oath about these sexual assaults.

And

Why did no one come forward years ago?

I don't know what to believe since so much ratfooking goes on in politics.

[mr715]

18. It isn't suspicious, it is strategic

There is plenty of time for Democrats to coalesce around a less odious choice.

[mr715]

24. He isn't owed due process

No one is forcing him to run for Governor. He can step aside.

There is no due process in politics. Getting caught, or even the suspicion of getting caught, is just as bad as the actual deed. There is no burden of proof for public vibes.

But to your point, yeah, his career is over. There is the easy way or the hard way.

With regard to Al Franken, his resignation elevated the moral status of the party. He wasn't forced and he could have fought, but he decided to raise the moral bar.

There was nothing much lost in Tina Smith taking over. She is every bit as good as Al Franken is.

Also, with respect to Franken, many of his Senator colleagues probably wanted him out so they could neutralize him as a potential primary opponent. I remember there were some rumors about him running for president prior to his resignation.

[OGBuzz]

27. 28 credible accusations of sexual assault and Trump still got elected.

I just hope that all that moral superiority doesn't earn the Democrats a silver medal in 2028.

[mr715]

32. The electorate of California isn't the USA

I hope we are not forced to sacrifice our morality for electoral victory. Ideally our moral rectitude would fortify our chances for success.

Trump, however, is a demon.

[usonian]

5. If I were aware of sexual abuse, I would immediately make it known.

I can only speak for myself.

Silence is how evil persists.



Victims are always doubly victimized.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. If you were a House staffer and you heard a rumor that your boss gets sloppy with young women, how would you go about

making that known?

[hamsterjill]

19. I would speak up, as well.

I wouldn't be able to live with myself otherwise because NOT speaking up would provide the opportunity for it to happen to others.

[Mysterian]

9. He's fucked

Sounds like the allegations are truthful. The bum needs to drop out.

[surfered]

17. From Politico...

“Eric Swalwell vowed Friday to fight sexual misconduct allegations he said are false, while apologizing to his wife for unspecified “mistakes” in his past.”

[mr715]

20. Oh, gotta watch out for those "mistakes"

His statements betray themselves.

Dude did some bad shit.

And there is a vocal minority here that absolve him because he aggressively attacks Trump.

California deserves better.

Apparently Katie Porter is too mean and too female. Steyer is too wealthy.

But Swalwell is too rapey.

[whathehell]

25. He's likely guilty, and should probably drop out

That said, the 'mistakes' he's made for which he's "only responsible to his wife" likely translate to his cheating on her..Lousy as that may be, it's not in any way conflatable with rape or assault. That situation would certainly make him accountable to more people than his wife.

[spooky3]

29. Posters on Threads seem to be quickly coalescing behind Becerra. Nt

[mr715]

30. Plenty of options available.

Swalwell didn't need to be on the list.

[JI7]

33. Mistakes likely refers to cheating on his wife

but he is denying the assault .

[mr715]

34. As one would.

This degenerates to a he said, she said.

In such a situation, I say vote for someone else.