Need I say more?
The timing of this is suspect.

That's a pattern of behavior. And it wasn't until the 7th that there was a serious push for him to resign.

And they all went away right after he resigned. Other than the original photo (purpose of which clearly was a joke as far as I am concerned) I also don't recall any evidence provided. Did anything good come out of it?

When we find out that Trump offered them fuck you money?

Don't invent conspiracies.

Can you provide an example of 8 women who accused a man who was later found to have been the victim of a frame job?

Gilbrand ran with it w/o any investigation what so ever,

[link: https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/07/defending-al-franken-for-real/|

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showing group photos of him in which he was pointing to her breasts in a clear attempt to be comic.

Swalwell has admitted that he's cheated on his wife and he now has 4 women speaking out about being sexually harassed - they are reporting specific details about repeated occasions. The woman who is accusing him of rape has contemporaneous corroboration of the event - she reported sexual abuse to a health care provider within a week of the event.

I love Al and I'm still angry that Dem leadership believed the single, weak accuser with clear ties to the Republican party.

Katy Porter is Elizabeth Warren's protege. I trust her judgment about the accusers. I do not believe she would play this dirty of a trick to get the seat. Katy will be brilliant as a Governor.

In terms of political fallout, Swalwell will be replaced by a Dem house member whether it's Newsom's choice or in an election.

I get that men can have their live's ruined by false allegations. As additional evidence is being released - including sexual texts from Swalwell to his women staff members - it looks, to me, more and more like the case made against Mario Cuomo.

I'll admit my opinion must've been misinformed - and apologize - because I literally didn't know about him have 8 accusers.

Swalwell admitted he had cheated, which makes the accusers' cases more believable to me.

He could have stayed in office if he had wanted.

I wish he had because I think the pressure would have blown over eventually.

Democrats should try to stand for something. What republicans will stand for should not be a benchmark for us.

not a fan of "republicans hold themselves to lower standards so we should too"

But barring proof, a previously “repressed memory” of wrongdoing is no reason to destroy a dedicated progressive and liberal Democratic Congressman.

I saw her interview on television news program, her identity hidden.

Going by my memory: She said she had no conscious memory, but remembered details as she was recently prompted by others, including the interviewer.

Here’s an interview from CNN — the clip is from 20 minutes ago, but I recognize the woman in shadow from the close up on her hands — seems like the footage was the same yesterday.

She implied she was drugged and she only remembered flashes of what happened.

Other than that, why should her word be sufficient to destroy Swalwell?

I didn't hear her say anything about memories that returned with prompting

What she said was that she remembered only flashes of what happened.

I don't think most are going to go on her word alone. There are others coming forward. And we can reverse your question to ask why should his word be sufficient to let him get away with ruining her life?

More will likely come out on this, I think. At the very least, HIS words admit that something happened, which shows a profound lack of judgment if you want to be a governor.

Until there’s proof or an admission of guilt, I will stand with Swalwell. It’s a question of loyalty to a pol with a 20-year career of public service.

Unlike so many political leaders, Swalwell stood up to Trump, Bondi, Patel and the rest of the traitors. The billionaires behind them can afford to do anything crooked under the Sun, including manufacturing witnesses.

Whatever happened to Al Franken?

so he didn't need a day in court.

a lovely brownstone on the East Side too.

Did we gain anything out of it?

The timing of these things does reflect badly on the accusers and our system.

I'm not aware that any texts or pictures have been released publicly. If they do indeed exist, they need to be released.

People are referring to texts and pictures that haven't even been released publicly?

Unbelievable, and yet, not.

It comes a point where no one will believe the media anyway.

I was waiting for more information and more has come out which is damning.

Wtf. Why did these women accuse him now? I'm not saying he is innocent, this just reeks of rat fuckery to me.

As far as Swalwell - I think he should drop his bid for governor for the sake of the people of California, he should not let his ego get in the way.
Just as Tim Walz dropped his bid when he realized that the fraud accusations would be a distraction.
I don't think Swalwell should resign his seat just yet. If evidence comes out - texts, photographs - that proves he committed a crime or was a serial sexual harasser like Cuomo, then he should resign. If it turns out that he's another man that can't keep it in his pants - that is between him and his wife, and he should not resign.
Either way, these allegations should be taken seriously and should be investigated.

The timing is suspicious, but doesn't mean there isn't there there. Think Christine Blasey Ford. - Republicans probably thought the timing was suspicious then too.
We know both parties do opposition research. So even if republican opposition research found these women, doesn't necessarily mean they are lying.

Politically, he really needed to drop out of the governor's race, for the sake for the race! There are 20 Dems in the race and they are in a jungle primary. Allow someone else to take the lead because we can't afford to have a Republican governor. He will still be on the ballot, but he won't have ads. If he stays and fights, that means more votes taken from a more qualified candidate. (Actually he is highly qualified, but the Dem power is diluted on this ticket!)

If there is proof that he sent pictures of his junk to a staffer and requested pics from the staffer, I don't see a way for him to effectively continue in congress either. Yeah I know the party of " family values, that claims to protect girls and women, does not care that trump is president. It is not something I want to emulate.

His voice will not be effective as it was, but his vote matters.

Either a special or just let the seat turn over during the normal election cycle.

But also DOZENS on women who accused of inappropriate conduct and an adjudicated rapist.

Donald John Trump of Queens NY admitted to being a sexual predator on the Howard Stern program in 2006.

Until then, they should not be subject to "damage control" hysteria.

Verifying accusations is not undercutting victims either.

than the accusations against Franken. (what I remember anyway)

Assuming some truth to it - Swalwell should help make arrangements to ensure safe passage of his seat to another Dem, and resign at the appropriate time to make that happen. And get some help for his issues.

and the accusation wasn't even true.


ETA: republicons and their 'centrist' allies prefer the status quo.

EVERYTHING has to be investigated carefully before you start calling for someone's head. You don't know what's real any more.

Not just when it's against an easy villain, not when it's just in my political interests.

but right now we don't have any power in any of the branches of government. So what did these principles have gotten us?

to win? I disagree. We will win in the end without sinking to their level. If we sink to their level there's no point in winning because we end up the same. Camus wrote that if you believe the end justifies the means, your end will be totally corrupted along the way. He had experience fighting the Nazis, so he knew what he was talking about.

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Let's not Al Franken ourselves again. This isn't a fair fight.

Forcing out our best candidates is NOT how we defeat the GOP. These allegations should be investigated of course but in America, we're not guilty until proven otherwise.

Look at Tim Walz....dropped out of the governor's race because of a fake scandal the GOP made up! Let's not hurt ourselves any longer.

Double-standard per usual!

prior to his being convicted of a felony?

If this were a rethug we would all be calling for his removal. Cant have it both ways all the time.

.... and for whatever combination of perfidies, mental challenges, losses of perspective, and mental pathologies which would explain HOW he would commit such actions post Clinton, post Weiner, post Spitzer. The finding THAT he committed such actions(not proved but oh hell what LONG road & we could use the next six months backing someone else!) requires too much sturm und drang for a party in this condition. Due process is due process but we don't need to accompany Eric to the door here.

Finally, when they had an image of him an Regina together arm in arm, he confessed.

I do agree, however, that it must be showcased just how hypocritical it is that the "party of family values" has a 34 time felon sex offender seditionist mass murderer as "president".

Well said...

anybody. There are plenty of Democrats to replace him.

Too close to the election to think otherwise.

Swalwell, Ye and Thurmond need to drop out now. In a week, recalibrate and 2 more should drop out. Having 8 Democratic candidates still running with the primary so close could very well lead to the top 2 candidates for the GE being Republicans.

Newsom needs to endorse someone by May 15th, if not sooner.