Eric Swalwell's "best friend" regrets defending him

The speaker addresses recent sexual assault allegations against Congressman Eric Swallwell, a close associate for whom the speaker chaired a presidential campaign and was financially involved in an AI startup. The speaker explicitly denies any prior knowledge of these specific allegations or predatory behavior. The speaker clarifies that while there's a general culture in DC where politicians might be known for being "flirty," they had never heard anything "inappropriate" or "predatory" about Swallwell or others, especially not towards staff. The current scale of the allegations has prompted a "gut check" among friends and colleagues, with many questioning what they might have missed. Regarding recent defenses of Swallwell on social media, the speaker explains two reasons for proactively defending him: first, similar rumors about politicians often surfaced without substantiation, and second, Swallwell's staff exploited the speaker's recent negative campaign experience, which was a "mistake." The speaker explicitly states that knowing what they know now, they would not have defended him or maintained their past relationship. The speaker acknowledges that this situation raises questions about their judgment, especially given potential 2028 political ambitions. They admit their judgment was "off" due to their personal relationship with Swallwell and his family, emphasizing their humanity over their political role. The speaker commits to learning from this experience to be a better boss and senator, framing it not as a 2028 issue but as an opportunity for personal and professional growth.