Powerful California institutions backed Swalwell's rise. Now they're facing questions
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SACRAMENTO — Before it all came crashing down, Eric Swalwell appeared on the cusp of rising to the top of the Democratic field in the California governor’s race.Swalwell had just announced a statewide tour and aired his first ad.The former prosecutor and Dublin city councilman launched his campaign on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in November, a comfortable setting for a politician who’d built a national reputation by appearing on cable news shows to attack President Trump.
Influential forces in Sacramento had begun coalescing behind the then-Bay Area congressman, including some consultants and advisors close to Gov.Gavin Newsom.
Newsom hasn’t endorsed, but his associates’ involvement lent credibility to Swalwell.Swalwell’s campaign quickly collapsed with the explosive allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staffer and had acted inappropriately with other women who were just beginning political careers.
Swalwell denies the allegations but dropped out of the race for governor and resigned his seat in the House.The whiplash over Swalwell’s rapid rise and fall has Democratic leaders facing questions about whether they had a blind spot about his alleged behavior.His onetime allies in Congress are being asked whether they knew about his conduct, which has been described as an open secret on Capitol Hill.
Unions who backed Swalwell have fled, and political consultants are returning donations.California Federation of Labor Unions President Lorena Gonzalez, whose group endorsed Swalwell and three others in the race, said she confronted Swalwell more than a month ago after hearing rumors about womanizing and illicit photos.“He’s a liar,” Gonzalez said.“He’s just a very skillful politician who did not tell the truth even when asked directly.”Though he was little known in much of California, Swalwell, 45, was a youthful and fresh face in a field of candid...