California Democrat Ro Khanna has voiced a strong suspicion that supporters and donors of Eric Swalwell were likely aware of his alleged sexual misconduct involving subordinates. These allegations have led to significant upheaval in Swalwell’s political career.

Swalwell, aged 45, recently stepped down from his position in Congress and withdrew from the California gubernatorial race following serious accusations of rape and sexual misconduct. A group of at least five women has come forward, with some alleging that the former Congressman sexually assaulted them. One accuser, Lonna Drewes, claims that Swalwell drugged and raped her in an incident dating back to 2018.

During an interview with the Daily Mail, Khanna shared insights into his decision not to support Swalwell, stating, “Look, I had heard rumors about womanizing. So that’s why I didn’t endorse him.” He expressed disbelief at the severity of the allegations, adding, “But I had no idea about the extent of it, that he actually was having totally inappropriate relationships with subordinates, that is, against the rules, and that he was engaged in alleged date rape and rape.”

Khanna described the situation as both “sickening and shocking” and expressed relief over Swalwell’s departure from public office. Despite the gravity of the accusations, Swalwell has maintained his innocence and denied any wrongdoing.

‘But I had no idea about the extent of it, that he actually was having totally inappropriate relationships with subordinates, that is, against the rules, and that he was engaged in alleged date rape and rape.’

He said the revelations are ‘sickening and shocking and I’m glad he’s left.’ Swalwell, meanwhile, has denied wrongdoing. 

Despite the sordid behavior and claims from Swalwell’s friends and confidants that they knew nothing, Khanna believes those close to the ex-lawmaker had to have known. 

‘Again, I don’t know the particulars, but I will say that I find it hard to believe that all these years people were close to him, or endorsing him or supporting him, that no one heard about some of this.’

Congressman Ro Khanna believes that some in Eric Swalwell’s circle new about the ex-lawmaker’s nefarious behavior with subordinates. Though he had heard of Swalwell’s ‘womanizing,’ Khanna did not feel compelled to report it since he’s not the ‘morality police’

California Democrat Eric Swalwell canceled his gubernatorial bid and resigned from Congress this week amid allegations that he raped several women, including his own staff 

Swalwell with his friend Senator Ruben Gallego on a trip to Qatar in 2021. Gallego has said that he did not know about Swalwell’s sexual relationships with staffers

‘I find it hard to believe that they didn’t know what was happening, and they had an obligation to speak up,’ he continued. 

Khanna said if he knew about the misconduct, he would’ve reported Swalwell. 

‘I had heard about the womanizing enough for me to say, “I’m not going to endorse him,” but my guess is that there may have been other people who knew that he was actually engaged in abuse of his own staff.’

Despite his knowledge of Swalwell’s ‘womanizing,’ Khanna did not feel compelled to take action against his fellow California Democrat because he’s not the ‘morality police.’ 

‘There’s a very big difference between someone’s private life and someone abusing power. What Swalwell did was not engage in affairs. What Swalwell did is abuse power with his own staff and potentially rape folks,’ Khanna explained. 

‘So I don’t believe that we have an obligation to shame people if they’re having an extramarital affair. That’s not my job to be a morality police, but it is my job to speak up if there’s someone who’s abusing their staff or engaged in sexual assault.’

Some critics have raised suspicions of Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, a close friend of Swalwell’s who served as chair of the California Democrat’s failed 2020 presidential campaign, wondering what he knew about the allegations and when.

‘I never saw him engage in any of the predatory behavior, harassment, sexual assault,’ Gallego said this week. 

Lonna Drewes reacts during a news conference in Beverly Hills, California, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, to detail allegations of sexual misconduct by Swalwell, after Swalwell exited the California governor’s race and said he’ll resign his seat in Congress

Drewes alleged that Swalwell drugged and raped her 

‘Look, we all heard rumors in Washington, D.C., about Eric Swalwell for many years,’ Gallego said at a press conference on the accusations against his friend. 

Both the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department have opened criminal probes into the ex-lawmaker.  

While rejecting the claims, the former lawmaker acknowledged making ‘mistakes in judgment’ and apologized to his wife, Brittany Watts.

Khanna noted that the Swalwell saga ‘shows that the culture needs to change in Congress, that there needs to be stricter rules for reporting when staff members are abused.’

When pressed on whether he has always treated women fairly and respectfully throughout his career, Khanna shot back: ‘Yes, of course.’