Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing renewed scrutiny following reports examining her past role in elevating former Congressman Eric Swalwell within Democratic leadership structures.
According to the New York Post report, Pelosi supported Swalwell’s rise through key committee appointments and leadership positions during his tenure in Congress, including roles on influential panels and his selection for high-profile responsibilities.
Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress on Tuesday, April 14th, after five women accused him of sexual misconduct. The women said he sent nude photos and touched them without their consent. Two of the women said he raped them.
One accusation states that Swalwell drugged a model and raped her in a hotel room in 2018. Swalwell called the allegations false and said he would fight them. He suspended his campaign for California governor on Sunday. He had served in Congress for 13 years.
Pelosi told Swalwell to drop out of the governor’s race. She said the accusations should be handled outside the campaign.
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Pelosi Backed Swalwell’s Rise in Congress
Nancy Pelosi placed Eric Swalwell in several important House positions. In 2014, she put him on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which shapes key policies for House Democrats. Pelosi said he was “an energetic and forward-looking leader who will bring fresh ideas and perspectives.”
In 2016, she named him vice chair of the committee. In 2021, Pelosi chose him as one of the managers for the House’s second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.
Swalwell also served on the House Intelligence Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Homeland Security Committee while Pelosi held leadership roles.
Pelosi Dismissed Warnings About Swalwell
In 2020, the FBI briefed lawmakers about Swalwell’s connections to a suspected Chinese spy. Pelosi said at the time, “I don’t have any concern about Mr. Swalwell.”
Then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy urged her to remove Swalwell from the Intelligence Committee. Pelosi did not remove him. In 2021, she appointed him to the Homeland Security Committee.
At a Monday event, Pelosi said she had no knowledge of Swalwell’s alleged actions toward women. “I had none whatsoever,” she said. She called his resignation from Congress “a smart decision” but said the choice was his.
Why this matters
The events show the long working relationship between Pelosi and Swalwell in California Democratic politics and in Congress. Pelosi backed his appointments for years, even after the FBI briefing, before the accusations became public and he resigned.
Questions remain about whether Pelosi and other allies were unaware of the alleged misconduct during the time they worked closely with him.
