Californians Weigh Eric Swalwell’s Replacement After Sex Scandal Implodes His Political Career
Aisha Wahab advanced to the November general election.
Graham Platner trots out wife to deal with his extramarital sexting scandal, giving some Democrats the ick
Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee hoping to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, has in recent months polled relatively well and enjoyed the support of fellow travelers in D.C. despite a series of scandals — including one scandal that prompted multiple members of his campaign to jump ship.
Platner has managed, for instance, to maintain the support of Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton (Mass.), Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), and Sen. Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), even after it was revealed he previously identified as a communist, branded rural white Americans as racists, suggested that service members worried about being raped should buy "Kevlar underwear," smeared all police officers as "bastards," mocked Jesus and the Virgin Mary, and adorned himself with an apparent "totenkopf" tattoo reminiscent of the skull image popularized by Adolf Hitler's Schutzstaffel elite guard.
'He is an issue.'
While Platner's campaign has always been plagued by controversy, it appears to finally have become too much for some Democrats to bear — especially after it was revealed that the married candidate sent at least six women sexually explicit texts.
Amy Gertner — Platner's wife since 2023 — discovered the trove of debauched extramarital texts, then brought them to the attention of her husband's Senate campaign during the vetting process last year, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.
"The United States Senate is not a training ground for redemption," Genevieve McDonald, the former Democratic state representative who resigned as political director of Platner's campaign in October, told the Times. "It is a place for proven leaders with moral clarity and integrity."
McDonald claimed that Platner sent sexually graphic texts to as many as a dozen women.
After current and former campaign officials confirmed the exchanges to the Times, Platner's campaign confirmed to Politico that the candidate had indeed sent the texts.
Morris Katz — a strategist for Platner's campaign who wrote that he wanted to use images of his penis in a 2020 children's book — said of the reports about his boss' wandering eye, "It's no one's f**king business what happened in Graham & Amy’s marriage before he was ever a candidate for office."
Gertner — who receives money from the campaign for serving as its volunteer coordinator — tried on Saturday to turn her husband's scandal on the media, noting in a video statement shared online by Platner, "It makes me really angry, disappointed, and I find it really shameful that there's a group of media outlets and people who are willing to spread gossip instead of talking about real issues that Graham is running on."
After insinuating that questions about Platner's trustworthiness and fidelity aren't relevant to the race, Gertner said that she and her husband went to marriage counseling and that she doesn't "want a perfect marriage."
Like Gertner, Rep. Ro Khanna reaffirmed his support for Platner, stating on Saturday that he was proud of Collins' challenger "for having a vision for a new deal for our time."
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), however, adopted a different tone, telling ABC News when asked on Sunday whether Platner might be jeopardizing Senate control for the Democrats, "Yes, I have concerns. That guy has questions to answer."
Levar Stoney, the former Democratic mayor of Richmond, Virginia, similarly knocked Platner, writing, "I can’t help but think that if this candidate were a person of color or a woman, my party would be asking them to consider stepping aside immediately. A Nazi tattoo! Now this. I want Democrats to take back the Senate — but not like this."
Prior to the revelations about Platner's sexting exploits, some Democrats were already airing their concerns about his candidacy.
"I think when we're talking about moral clarity and what we want to see from Democrats, I think he is an issue," former Biden press office chief of staff Yemisi Egbewole, told Fox News' Bill Melugin last week.
Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) also denounced Platner last week, telling CNN, "I've been clear about Graham Platner. I find that tattoo and his commentary about it to be personally disqualifying."
"I hope Maine voters agree with me," continued Auchincloss. "I think it would be a mistake for the Democratic Party to think that Graham Platner's brand of the Democratic Party is what wins us durable majorities throughout this country."
Over the weekend, the Maine Wire reported that Platner appeared to have an account on the messaging application Kik — long a cesspool for perverts and child exploitation — with the username "phustle0331."
CNN later confirmed that the account, which features a photo of a partially naked individual with tattoos identical to those sported by the Democratic candidate, belongs to Platner, the same person Sen. Warren said last month was her "kind of man."
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A Democrat resigned from Congress Tuesday as her colleagues ramped up efforts to expel the lawmaker over her corruption scandal.
Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida avoided her imminent expulsion by simply resigning, claiming that the House Ethics Committee's investigation was a "witch hunt" that violated her "due process rights." The investigative subcommittee effectively found Cherfilus-McCormick guilty of dozens of campaign finance violations after she was accused of laundering millions of dollars worth of COVID-era FEMA funds into her campaign account.
'That is a dangerous path.'
"This was not a fair process," Cherfilus-McCormick said in a statement Tuesday. "The Ethics Committee refused my new attorney's reasonable request for time to prepare my defense. By going forward with this process while a criminal indictment is pending, the Committee prevented me from defending myself. I will not stand by and pretend that this has been anything other than a witch hunt."
"I simply cannot stand by and allow my due process rights to be trampled on, and my good name to be tarnished. Rather than play these political games, I choose to step away so that I can devote my time to fighting for my neighbors in Florida's 20th district."
RELATED: 'Mutually assured destruction': Another disgraced lawmaker to resign from Congress over sex scandal
Cherfilus-McCormick argued that the committee was setting a "dangerous precedent," claiming she was not treated fairly during the investigation.
"But let me say this plainly: we should be very careful about the precedent we are setting," Cherfilus-McCormick said in the statement. "In this country, we do not punish people before due process is complete. We do not allow allegations alone to override the will of the people. That is a dangerous path, and one that should concern every American, regardless of party."
Cherfilus-McCormick is the second Democrat and third lawmaker in recent weeks to resign from Congress. Former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California dropped out of his gubernatorial race and later resigned from Congress after multiple women, including former staffers, accused him of sexual misconduct.
Swalwell's resignation was accompanied by a resignation from former Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, who also got caught in a sex scandal with one of his former staffers who tragically took her own life by setting herself on fire. Gonzales later admitted to the affair and dropped out of his re-election race before eventually resigning from Congress altogether.
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Cherfilus-McCormick is the second Democrat and third lawmaker in recent weeks to resign from Congress. Former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California dropped out of his gubernatorial race and later resigned from Congress after multiple women, including former staffers, accused him of sexual misconduct.
Swalwell's resignation was accompanied by a resignation from former Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, who also got caught in a sex scandal with one of his former staffers who tragically took her own life by setting herself on fire. Gonzales later admitted to the affair and dropped out of his re-election race before eventually resigning from Congress altogether.
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'Mutually assured destruction': Another disgraced lawmaker to resign from Congress over sex scandal
A Republican is following in California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell's footsteps by resigning from Congress after sex scandals imploded their respective political ambitions.
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) announced his imminent resignation Monday, shortly following Swalwell's statement after several lawmakers led a bipartisan effort to expel the two lawmakers from the House of Representatives. Rather than wait to be expelled, Gonzales vowed to resign from Congress, weeks after admitting to an affair with a former staffer who took her own life by self-immolating.
'Everybody knows where one another's bodies are buried.'
"There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all," Gonzales said in an X post on Monday. "When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas."
Swalwell's resignation came just days after new bombshell reports revealed that several ex-staffers have accused the Democrat of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior, prompting him to drop out of the California governor's race and out of political life altogether.
RELATED: Democrats dump Eric Swalwell after sexual assault allegations implode his career
"I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past," Swalwell said in a statement. "I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make. I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members."
"Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong," Swalwell added. "But it's also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress."
Both scandals were considered open secrets, and the timing of Gonzales' and Swalwell's statements suggests their resignations may have been part of a backroom deal. The next pair of scandal-ridden lawmakers rumored to be on the chopping block are both from Florida: Republican Rep. Cory Mills, who has a flurry of allegations against him ranging from stolen valor to blackmail, and Democrat Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who was federally indicted for allegedly stealing millions in FEMA funds tied to COVID.
"It's mutually assured destruction," Len Foxwell, a Maryland-based Democrat strategist, told Blaze News. "Eric Swalwell is just the latest guy who got caught. Tony Gonzales was the latest guy who got caught across the aisle."
Although lawmakers were quick to throw Swalwell under the bus, Democrat strategist and pollster Dheeraj Chand suggested that the only reason they did so was because their open secret became a PR problem.
"I think it shows a seriousness on this side that we decided Swalwell could not continue," Chand told Blaze News. "It shows we do take it seriously when it becomes unavoidable. They do try to protect people sometimes, but very rarely."
"For every person who gets caught, there are, in all likelihood, a few dozen more who are engaged in inappropriate behavior with their subordinates," Foxwell told Blaze News. "Everybody knows where one another's bodies are buried."
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Teens testify they saw mayor having sex with 16-year-old boy during boozy pool party at her home. Now verdict is in.
Misty Roberts — accused of having sex with a drunken 16-year-old boy during a boozy pool party at her home while she was mayor of a small town in Louisiana — has been found guilty of felony child sex crimes.
KPLC-TV on Tuesday evening reported that Roberts was found guilty of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile — both felonies.
'Go fight your friend. He’s the one who did it.'
The station noted that the jury "deliberated for less than an hour" before reaching a verdict. Her sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. April 17. Roberts will have to register as a sex offender.
Blaze News previously reported on the initial arrest and resignation of the 43-year-old Roberts.
Roberts was arrested on Aug. 1, 2024, and charged with third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, according to the Louisiana State Police.
Roberts — who was the first female mayor of DeRidder and was serving her second term — resigned on July 27, 2024.
In her resignation letter to the city council, Roberts explained her decision to step down by saying: "I must adjust my focus and priorities."
The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office requested the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit to investigate a complaint regarding allegations of sexual relations between a minor and Roberts.
Roberts hosted a boozy pool party at her home in July 2024 during her second term as mayor, prosecutors said.
During the seven-day trial, jurors were shown text messages between Roberts and her teenage son, with the pair discussing what type of alcohol the teens wanted for the party hosted at her home.
KPLC reported on the victim's testimony about the night of the pool party, noting that Roberts told him he "looked good, started winking at him, and dancing on him."
In his closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Charles Robinson highlighted a "lewd and lascivious photo" which KPLC described as Roberts "wearing a bikini as the teen smiles up at her."
The victim said Roberts kissed him near the pool, then led them into a room of her home.
The victim — who was 16 years old at the time — testified that Roberts removed her top, he pulled his pants down, and then they had sex.
During explosive testimony Tuesday, the victim — who was a friend of Roberts' son — told the jury he was extremely intoxicated when he and Roberts had sex, KPLC reported.
"I was kind of dizzy," the victim told the courtroom. "I had to put my hands on the couch. My eyes were just, like, closed."
The teen added, "While it was happening, I couldn’t feel my body."
"After we had sex, I kinda was realizing what was happening," the victim stated.
The boy recalled Roberts noticing what appeared to be a cell phone seen in a window of the room.
Roberts' son told the pair that someone at the party had recorded their sexual encounter on video, according to the victim.
The victim testified that a "big argument" between Roberts and her son took place, during which she said, "Go fight your friend. He’s the one who did it."
According to KPLC, the victim told jurors that Roberts "was trying to get him to fight me. She was trying to get the blame off of herself."
The boy said he was "kind of shell-shocked" and added, "I just went to my truck and sat there."
The teen said Roberts' nephew later came up to him outside and said, "What you did was kind of messed up, but it’s her fault."
According to KPLC, a 14-year-old at the party testified that he witnessed the victim and Roberts having sex. The teen told the court that Roberts "was acting real crazy" when she came back downstairs after the sexual encounter.
Another witness who was 17 at the time of the alleged incident admitted on the stand that he lied when he first told investigators in 2024 that he was asleep and didn't see anything, KPLC reported, adding that he testified Monday that he actually did see Roberts and the victim having sex.
“It just seemed the easiest thing to do was to keep up with the lie,” he told the jury, according to the station.
'I played dumb and denied it.'
Roberts' nephew told the court he believed he saw the two engaging in sexual activity based on their movements but admitted he hadn't seen any "private parts."
Roberts’ daughter testified that she saw her mother and the teen "on top of each other" on the night of the party, KPLC reported.
The victim said those who knew about the incident had a plan "to not tell anyone because it was embarrassing" to Roberts' nephew, Roberts' son, and himself.
KPLC reported that Duncan Clanton, Roberts' ex-husband and father to their two children, testified that his ex-wife told him she had sex with a juvenile, which their son confirmed to him.
Clanton added to jurors that Roberts requested that he call the victim’s family to gauge their reaction, which he said he did.
Clanton said DeRidder City Councilman Joseph Daniel Reynolds contacted him about the incident, and afterward he texted Roberts: "I played dumb and denied it."
In another text, Roberts wrote to her ex-husband, "I can’t keep hurting others, friends, and family. Lord knows I’ve done enough."
Clanton assured Roberts via text message that she was a great mom, according to prosecutors.
However, during cross-examination, Clanton was asked if his ex-wife was a great mom, and he responded, "No."
Roberts' lifelong best friend and former sister-in-law, Jill Weaver, texted her son — Roberts' nephew, who attended the party — "Lie till you die" about what happened, according to KPLC.
Weaver was asked if she instructed her son to not contact authorities about the incident: "Did you consult with him on how to keep the police out of this?” Weaver responded, "Probably."
The mother of the victim texted Roberts about the possibility that her son impregnated her, but Roberts assured the mom that she was on birth control, according to messages shown in court by prosecutors.
A DoorDash driver also informed the court that he delivered Plan B emergency contraception to Roberts' home in 2024 and left it at her front door and that a customer named "Misty C" made the order.
KPLC reported, "He said he knew it was Roberts’ house because he had brought his kids trick-or-treating there before."
The news outlet added that the DoorDash driver had "heard rumors of Roberts’ alleged crimes in the following days and believed that he had delivered the contraceptive for that incident."
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