Why rumors about Eric Swalwell went unreported

Here & Now Anytime

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4.1 • 953 Ratings

🗓️ 15 April 2026

⏱️ 25 minutes

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Summary

Rumors about former Rep. Eric Swalwell's behavior had been reportedly circulating for years. We talk with former Rep. Jackie Speier about the rumors and what Congress can do to better police its members. Speier was involved in 2018 in rewriting the way Congress handles sexual misconduct accusations. Politico's Melanie Mason explains how a group of social media influencers brought attention to the sexual harassment and assault they say Swalwell committed.

Then, the Pentagon is sending more troops to the Middle East, and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports continues, in an attempt to pressure Iran into making a deal to end the war. Washington Post reporter Dan Lamothe shares the latest.

And, Dr. Kathleen May explains why the allergy season may have you sneezing a bit longer this year

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Transcript

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0:00.0	WBUR Podcasts, Boston.
0:08.2	When I arrived at his hotel room, I was already incapacitated, and I couldn't move my arms or my body.
0:22.1	More women accuse former Congressman Eric Swalwell of sexual assault.
0:35.7	It's Wednesday, April 15th, and this is here and now anytime from NPR and WB War Boston.
0:42.6	I'm Shiko Thémuri.
0:45.9	Today on the show, we get an update on the Middle East as the Pentagon sends more troops to the region,
0:51.6	and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports continues in an attempt to force
0:55.9	an end to the war. And no, you're not crazy. Seasonal allergies are coming for us much earlier
1:02.5	and staying much longer. We'll have tips on how to survive this spring. But first, former
1:09.1	congressman and California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell is now under criminal
1:14.0	investigation in New York and California now that another woman has come forward with sexual assault
1:20.1	accusations against him. Lana Drews claimed Swalwell raped her in 2018 after he drugged her drink.
1:27.2	We were supposed to go to a political event and he said he needed to get paperwork from his hotel room.
1:35.9	When I arrived at his hotel room, I was already incapacitated and I couldn't move my arms or my body.
1:49.6	Swalwell denies the accusations of sexual misconduct and assault.
1:53.8	But rumors about Swalwell's behavior with young women had been reportedly swirling privately for years on Capitol Hill.
2:00.9	Melanie Mason has written about a whisper network that led to Swalwell's fall from Grace over the past week.
2:06.5	She's the California Bureau Chief for Politico.
2:09.5	We'll hear from her in a bit.
2:11.3	But first, Peter O'Dowd gets perspective from former Democratic California Congresswoman, Jackie Spear.
2:17.3	You served with Eric Swalwell in the House for a decade.
2:20.4	You're both from California.
	...

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