Funny how fast things change in politics.
One minute, Eric Swalwell is a rising Democrat, running for governor of California, getting TV time, throwing punches at Republicans.
The next? He’s watching allies disappear like a bad bet in Vegas.
My Post column on the Swalwell scandal is out. In Shelley’s work, Dr. Frankenstein is asked “‘Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?” This week, Swalwell may wish he could ask that of Nancy Pelosi…https://t.co/C0WYR7U6IU
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) April 11, 2026
According to a column by legal scholar Jonathan Turley in the New York Post, four women have now accused Swalwell of serious sexual misconduct.
The claims include allegations from former staffers.
One woman says she was raped while too intoxicated to consent. Another says she tried to fight him off and was left injured.
Swalwell says it’s not true.
But in politics, sometimes what matters just as much as the truth is how people react to it.
And the reaction has been… telling.
When the Support Dries Up
Almost overnight, some of Swalwell’s biggest backers hit reverse.
Nancy Pelosi. Gone.
Adam Schiff. Gone.
Even Ruben Gallego, a close ally, reportedly stepped away.
That’s not small stuff. In politics, endorsements are like chips on a poker table.
You don’t pull them back unless you think you’re about to lose the hand.
So voters are left asking, what changed?
The “Creation” Problem
Turley makes an interesting argument.
He says Swalwell didn’t just rise on his own. He was built. Promoted. Protected.
For years, he was the guy Democrats sent out to take swings. He was loud. Aggressive. Always ready for a fight.
That made him useful.
Until it didn’t.
Turley draws comparison to the Frankenstein story:
You don’t get to build it and then pretend you had nothing to do with it.
This Isn’t Coming Out of Nowhere
Here’s where it gets even more interesting.
Swalwell has been in the spotlight before. Not always in a good way.
There was the controversy involving a suspected Chinese spy known as Fang Fang.
At the time, Pelosi brushed it off. No big deal, she said.
Then there was the Brett Kavanaugh hearing.
Swalwell didn’t hold back. He argued that multiple accusations pointed to guilt.
Strong words.
But now, the roles are reversed.
The Question Nobody Wants to Answer
Washington is a small town with a lot of powerful people who talk to each other.
So when something like this blows up, people naturally wonder…
How did nobody know?
Staff. Colleagues. Political friends.
Are we supposed to believe there were zero warning signs?
Turley suggests the rumors may have been ignored because Swalwell was valuable.
He helped push the message. He played his role.
If that’s true, it raises a much bigger issue.
Not just regarding one man, but the whole system around him.
Why Nevadans Should Care
You don’t have to live in California to see why this matters.
Fair is fair.
No special rules. No inside deals. No polite cover-ups.
If the allegations are true, we all should expect accountability.
To Be Fair…
Swalwell and his supporters say the allegations are false.
It’s true that accusations aren’t convictions, and everyone deserves due process.
But politics runs on trust. And trust is a fragile thing.
Once people start to doubt you, it doesn’t take a guilty verdict to end a campaign.
Sometimes it just takes enough smoke.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just a story about one politician having a bad week.
It’s about how power works.
It’s about who gets protected – and who doesn’t.
And it’s about what happens when the same people who built someone up suddenly pretend they barely knew him.
That’s going to stick with voters.
In the end, people aren’t only judging Eric Swalwell.
They’re watching everyone else too.
And they’re asking, who knew what? And when?
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
