Gavin Newsom stays mum on discipline for Eric Swalwell allegations

Gavin Newsom has broken his silence on the rape and sexual assault allegations against Eric Swalwell — before failing to call for him to drop out of the race for governor.

“As we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously,” Newsom’s press office said in a statement to the California Post on Sunday.

The office failed to answer a question on whether he thinks Swalwell should drop out of the race or resign from Congress.

Last Friday, four women accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including alleged rape. His behavior allegedly included sending unsolicited nudes and intercourse under questionable circumstances. Swalwell continues to adamantly deny the accusations.

As soon as the reports surfaced, elected officials and others were quick to act.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a powerhouse in California politics, said she called Swalwell and told him to drop out. Pelosi also called for an investigation.

Multiple Democratic candidates for governor also blasted Swalwell, with some of them even explicitly stating that he should lose his job.

“Eric Swalwell must immediately suspend his campaign and resign from Congress,” said Ian Calderon, a candidate that had dropped out of the race to support Swalwell.

“California deserves leaders who uphold the highest standards of integrity, moral responsibility and ethical conduct.”

Major labor unions and advocacy organizations also moved to withdraw their endorsements, and key Congress members that helped build Swalwell’s campaign — such as U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez — backed out and said Swalwell should leave the gubernatorial race.

Swalwell’s job is already in jeopardy as some members move to expel him.

Newsom’s terse statement could be attributed to the fact that he has typically kept himself out of the governor’s race. He has not endorsed any candidate, despite calls from pundits to do so to prevent too many Democratic votes from being split among a crowded field of candidates.

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