We haven't heard much about former Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-14) over the last couple of weeks, presumably because the investigations are continuing into the disturbing allegations of sexual assault that were made against him earlier this month, claims which resulted in his exit from the California gubernatorial race and his resignation from Congress.
Someone else who we haven't heard much from beyond canned social media posts is Swalwell's (now-former?) bestie, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), whose well-documented bromance was the stuff of legends in Capitol Hill Democrat political circles. At one point, they were roommates in D.C. and going on overseas junkets with their respective wives, including one to Qatar, where they (Swalwell and Gallego) infamously posed for cringe photos shirtless while riding camels.
Hmm. I seem to recall Ruben Gallego and his boy Eric Swalwell riding camels on a junket to Qatar. When they were shutting down American businesses during the pandemic.https://t.co/6JCmtKzolH https://t.co/2hLZJQcbsK pic.twitter.com/io4UhTuLrj
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) May 12, 2025
As RedState previously reported, when the story of the sexual harassment allegations first broke, Gallego's first instinct was to try to cast doubt. As the week went on, however, Gallego, who was also chairman of Swalwell's failed 2020 presidential campaign, began to change his tune, saying he believed the women who were accusing his best friend of rape. Later, he went full-on "deer in headlights" when asked if he'd ever spotted suspicious behavior.
Gallego's stock responses have been to suggest that Swalwell was living a "double life" and that he had no idea of it beyond some "flirting" he had heard about but didn't believe, a rather convenient claim considering as recently as November of 2025, Swalwell was lovingly referring to Gallego as an extremely close pal, calling him his "best friend in the world," a statement Gallego embraced without objection.
RELATED: Sen. Ruben Gallego Suddenly Seems Panicky for Some Reason
When last we checked, GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) had referred allegations that were "sexual in nature" against Gallego himself (and which Luna said possibly had an element of human trafficking to them) to Sen. Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who in turn said he'd forwarded them to the Senate Ethics Committee for investigation.
Gallego has denied any wrongdoing, stating without evidence through a spokesman that the allegations were "right-wing conspiracy theories being parroted by a fringe far-right member of Congress." Interestingly, it was eerily similar to how Swalwell had initially characterized the allegations against himself.
In an update to this story, it turns out that Gallego is still trying to run away from Swalwell. And it looks like it's still not working, as he's now been caught not being upfront about how often he's hung out with or associated with Swalwell in recent years:
NEW Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego caught in a LIE about Eric Swalwell
— Ben Petersen (@bennpetersen) April 28, 2026
Claims he was “missing” and “not around” Swalwell after 2021
(Also, allegations begin 2018)
FALSE - Receipts: pic.twitter.com/V9TxpHhmME
YIKES 🚨 @RubenGallego just told @AnaNavarro he didn't know about @EricSwalwell b/c he was "missing" and "not around" since 2021
— Brian Anderson (@AZBrianAnderson) April 28, 2026
Here are only A FEW of Gallego's interactions and vacations with Swalwell from '21 to '23
SOURCE: https://t.co/d3CSKSosEjhttps://t.co/CrGVqfKwUZ pic.twitter.com/PSIzG2gZdw
There was also the November 2025 event, as we noted earlier.
If Ruben Gallego has nothing to hide, why does he appear to be fudging the details on time spent with Swalwell over the last few years?
On top of all this, Luna is now saying four women have alleged sexual misconduct by Gallego. She even claimed there was a reporter, whom Luna's been told allegedly has text receipts of Gallego being "very sexually explicit and inappropriate," and she's hoping the reporter will come forward.
🚨 HOLY S-HT- Anna Paulina-Luna says " These are no longer just rumors " - (4) women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct by Ruben Gallego
— @Chicago1Ray 🇺🇸 (@Chicago1Ray) April 27, 2026
Inappropriate advances, comments, Gallego had taken his own ear wax and rubbed it on one of these women
CHARGE HIM pic.twitter.com/PIrc6DDiXH
I have now heard of 4 women who have had multiple and uncomfortable/inappropriate advances/comments/touching, etc. from Senator Gallego. This is not made up and the Senate is being awfully quiet about it. https://t.co/LcYivkWHwC
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) April 23, 2026
Like Luna, we are, of course, just asking questions, and await word and possible next steps, if any, from the Ethics Committee as they look into the claims. For what it's worth, Gallego met with them on the Friday after Luna referenced the referral of the matter to Thune in a CBS News interview.
As always, stay tuned.
For a comprehensive timeline of Gallego's and Swalwell's friendship over the years, click here.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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