Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona on Tuesday denied that he was the man in a video posted to social media this week allegedly showing Representative Eric Swalwell—who announced Monday that he is resigning amid sexual assault accusations—in bed with a woman.
Gallego rejected what he called false claims circulating online.
In response to a question about the video circulating on X, Gallego told reporters, in part: "This is an example of the lies. No, I was not sitting next to him, I was not in the room, I was nowhere, I don't even know where it happened.
"Right-wing political operatives are pushing this narrative that somehow I was in that room with Eric Swalwell, and that is an absolute lie."
Swalwell, 45, told Newsweek during a brief phone interview on Tuesday afternoon: "I have no comment on anything—period—and I’m going to hang up now.”
The video appears to show a man resembling Swalwell, a California Democrat, kissing a woman on a bed, with another man sitting on the same bed. Newsweek has seen the video, which has circulated on social media in recent days, but has not independently verified its authenticity, origin or context.
Swalwell said this week he is leaving Congress and withdrawing from the crowded race for California governor following the accusations amid a rapid loss of support from allies. Swalwell has maintained that the allegations are false.
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