Apparently Swalwell’s behavior was an open secret in CA politics.

April 11, 2026 - 00:10 UTC

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I don’t know what’s more depressing, that he’s turned out be another heinous predator or that so many knew about it and did nothing.
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"Oh I knew about this long ago" doesn't seem like a great admission?
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Suboptimal at the very least.
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…so they knew and said nothing…

Swalwell should get what he deserves…but these bastards should be asked some hard questions too.
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My theory is that a lot men admire other men who can get away with horrible stuff, so they associate with them (Epstein), vote for them (Trump), and showcase them to the public as "leaders." (CNN).
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Unless they are democrats.
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So they fucking knew he was a predator and enabled him by staying quiet? Fuck them.
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It’s the 2nd worst thing about these things when they happen. 1st is the damage done to the victim but it’s real hard to reconcile the enormity of the second… there are ALWAYS people who knew. And they did nothing. And then… more victims. This concept does not only apply to sexual assaults.
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If that's true, then shame on all of them, including David Dayen.
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All these people knew and said nothing. Despicable human piece’s of chit. All of them.
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Survivors are completely within their rights to decide when and how to share their stories. People they shared their stories are right to respect survivors’ wishes to keep their confidence. In fact I think it would be despicable to share a survivor’s story publicly against their wishes.
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fmr Speaker Pelosi?
so the offenses aren't maybe as frequent/common -
but still abhorrent and tolerated...
why don't the good guys do better/win...? 🙃
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But not in AZ?
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Then where was the party discipline to discourage him from running for governor? Because they had to know that shit was gonna come out, and in an environment where Epstein is instrumental and removing Trump of course it’s going to matter. The party should not have let him run.
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It was an open secret. If I knew you can bet his colleagues did.
bsky.app/profile/thecoratee.bsky.social/post/3mj32tg5lyc2v
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The same thing happened with former CDP chair Eric Bauman too. Everyone knew he was a creep and groomed many young men. And when a whistleblower came forward the WB was exiled from the party and forced out of his job at Kamala’s AG office.
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And people wonder why victims stay silent
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There is nothing about this - no matter which way one leans - that is not disheartening beyond words.
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What are the chances he goes MAGA now? They have to be greater than zero...
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Not this cycle. Jared and Don Jr have spent too much time talking about the Chinese Honeypot to turn that ship around now.
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to what end? it would be political death in CA politics.
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I think they're zero. I don't see state criminal charges coming, let alone federal charges. He slinks off to spend time with his family & emerges to get fairly lucrative work in lobbying, as well as in media on "the lessons I learned that Democrats need to know".
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If they knew why the actual fuck didn't they say anything! I voted for this guy because they didn't say anything! What are we fucking doing here!
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Wow. Do they not realize they could have done something??
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Nice of them to look out for others. Assholes
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No. Survivors are completely within their rights to decide when and how to share their stories. People they shared their stories are right to respect survivors’ wishes to keep their confidence.
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Maybe, bear with me here, maybe we should consider that a LOT of men are too lacking in self control and common sense to lead ANYTHING? They can't seem to concentrate without their gonads playing a role.
All that "women are too emotional" claptrap was diflection and projection.
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Deflection. Sheesh.
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So these people are all complicit in sexual abuse.
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All men saying nothing while their colleague harassed and assaulted women. Disgusting.
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I really feel like we need to sit with "did not specifically witness but was aware of from a position to know" would probably be considered good enough if he'd been misusing office funds
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The Dem Party is as rotten and corrupted as everything else. Have a great weekend everyone!
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At this point, it seems every congressman in office are actually sexual predators bc wtf not.
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He was always a little creepy to tell you the truth
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Amazing none of this came out until Roger stone got involved . Hmm
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What are you trying to say, Amy?
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These people say they knew but did nothing
So gross. See something say something
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According to whom- question the sources and timing. Especially in CA politics. Verify this stuff- before everyone “Al-Frankens” him.
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Al Franken Al Frankened Al Franken
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Motherfucker, there is nothing "radical left" about continuing to defend a man who was credibly accused of sexual harassment by eight different women.
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Oh please. FFS!

Al Franken had MULTIPLE accusers, not just that one photo. The Ethics Committee found it all credible enough to recommend an investigation.

As soon as they did, he resigned. So there wouldn't BE one.

But true believers still carrying that torch! 🙄
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You mean, finds out he did a bunch of bad stuff and encourages them to resign? Yeah, how terrible..
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By “Al Frankened” do you mean “held responsible for sexually assaulting someone?”
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😳😳😳
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Why the fuck didn’t they say something rather than let interns walk into a dangerous situation??
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WTF! ... FFS ... Why didn't they say something??
😡😡
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(not a defense) probably because they didn't have an actual victim willing to come forward at the time and insulate them from libel charges
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Why are they telling me now that they didn't tell me then?
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Both of them tut-tutting about how all the other people did nothing while they also did nothing, and then immediately respond with “what could I have done?” when called on it
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This behaviour is frankly preposterous. Even though this is an allegation but this abusive behaviour by politicians across both parties is just appalling. For Swalwell to have this skeleton in his closet, yet has the temerity to want to be the Governor of the richest state is simply narcissistic
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Epstein Class?
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If they all knew, why didn't someone speak up? That is even more disgusting!
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"We all knew" did anyone say anything???
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Aw man, what a disappointment
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You ain’t lyin’.
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Pelosi let this slide?
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Dayen is a dipshit. Oh, they knew all along! Lefties stop hating women challenge (impossible).
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Dayen sucks.
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I mention it to point out that these 2 aren’t internet nobodies spreading chatter for E-Clout.
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@ronanfarrow.bsky.social did you know?
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and on Instagram for a long time
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There's something scuzzy about Democratic Party apparatchiks who protect sexual abusers (like Swalwell) and then want their status ad insiders validated by saying, "Yeah, I knew." when it comes out (publicly).
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"We all knew, just can't believe someone else didn't out him, like why would you expect me to do it!"
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FYI bsky.app/profile/ddayen.bsky.social/post/3mj6ff2zmbc23
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"The fact that it took so long is an embarrassing failure all around"
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Da fuq?
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Even if they are not abusers, it is very common that politicians are jerks. It is a very, very difficult job that selects for strange people
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The only way you can be successful in electoral politics, at the national level, is to have an ego that would be disqualifying in a lot of other situations.
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And you can also be a jerk and be a good performing elected official, doing good things. There have been a ton of them.
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Maybe because everyone’s covering for raging assholes instead of outing them so nobody wants to be one
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Dayen could have used his position to at least hint that there were issues. But he did not, because he wanted to preserve access in case nothing happened
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And now he seems to be saying that Gallego and others knew but endorsed Swalwell anyway? I hope he has evidence to back that up.
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How, exactly, can that be done? Be specific.
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Dayen is an editor at American Prospect, and Atkins is a policy wonk who has worked in CA Democratic Machine for a decade plus.
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There sure are a lot of douchebags on the political scene.
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dante atkins is also a softer shit than his ourrloveutionary --> warrenista big bro dave.
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And THEY SAID NOTHING???

For 10 years?
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Why didn’t these dudes who say they knew do some reporting on this years ago??
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If dayen is an editor at the prospect and isnt using that scoop like its right there?!?!

What a shitshow
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Are you suggesting that Dayen was covering for Swallwell?

Did he know in a vibes way or an evidence way?

Dayen is a mench, just a great guy all around. I really don't think he was covering anything up. He probably just didn't have evidence & his beat isn't sex crimes.
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It’s such a weird flex coming from a journalist and party insider. “Oh we totally knew Swalwell was a monster 10 years ago. Sure we theoretically could have used our positions to do something with that info, but honestly we just didn’t care. Isn’t that cool?”
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WHERE WAS LEADERSHIP? Sounds like Pelosi et al were fine with it as long as he was winning.
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She is asking for him to step aside.
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This is all disappointing
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Yeah, these guys can fuck right off, because they essentially covered for this asshole.
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They weren’t the only ones. And they were at the periphery.
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FYI bsky.app/profile/ddayen.bsky.social/post/3mj6ff2zmbc23
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So, everyone knew yet nobody felt the need to say/do anything about it until now? Why now? Those that “knew”are responsible for others being “groomed.” Those that knew should be held accountable for staying silent while crimes were being committed. Those that knew hurt victims with silence.
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jfc come on @ddayen.bsky.social do better man this is really really disappointing yuck
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Seems like a lot of “open secrets” that the public doesn’t know about.
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This is SO fucked up
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Also, if “everyone knew” why did no one do anything goddamnit
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I don't mean this to be a sweeping comment, but jfc are there any ethical people in politics.
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Swalwell, you degenerate RAPIST.
You sick, foul, twisted pervert.
God rot your soul.

And everyone knew and they ALL kept quiet!

Why didn't they report it to the media at the very least?

WHY.
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Because they were not on the next bar stool, or also up in Eric's hotel room to actually, actually witness, should I go on?
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At the very least Dayen could have given a heads up to a reporter during MeToo. Like, how many Journos would have chased that down day and night?
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Maybe the victims didn’t want the people who knew to say anything. Not everyone who experiences sexual assault, harassment, or unwanted advances in the workplace wants to suddenly be in the spotlight and be a victim.
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He's gonna fuck California too. He needs to drop out. We're gonna end up with that fucken-crazed cop. These journalists let these woman down and our state
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Hey Dems, quick question: what the fuck is it you think we’re trying to do here? Like, do y’all actually wanna win elections?

Man I’m tired of this shit.
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Hey Progressives endorsing Platner because Bernie said so.
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Then surely physical evidence exists and not just gossiping about in texts.
Right?
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Isn't there some culpability for not warning victims or stopping the crimes?
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It's like Prince Andrew smuggly saying the same stuff. Didn't help Andrew's standing in decent society.
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@alt-text.bsky.social
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Did Amy ofnthe men who knew about this ever have a convo with the guy and be like, Hey man what you're doing is uncool and will get you in trouble one day so cut out the sex pest stuff or we're going to make it a problem for you?
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Ironic these people who clearly knew are on social media saying other people who knew should have talked... But they didn't and that's okay? Fuck all of these people.
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So why did they let his campaign go on for so long???
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So it's "embarrassing" that it's just now getting out while this Dante knew forever that this was happening. Fuck Dante & every other person who kept it quiet.
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