Comedian Bill Maher delivered a blistering takedown of former California Rep. Eric Swalwell on Friday’s episode of HBO’s “Real Time,” calling the disgraced Democrat a “f–king creep” and lambasting the political and media establishment for protecting him as his alleged misconduct remained an “open secret” for years.
Maher, who had hosted Swalwell on his show multiple times, admitted he never liked the now-former congressman and said his “creepdar” went off during their encounters.
“I’ve got to say, we had him on a couple of times. Ask my staff, I never liked him. I don’t have good gaydar, but I’ve got creepdar. I’ve always thought this guy was a f–king creep. I never liked him,” Maher said, according to a transcript of the show obtained by Breitbart.
‘Open Secret’ Culture: From Clinton to Cosby to Swalwell
Maher used Swalwell’s downfall as a springboard to critique a broader pattern in which powerful men are protected by their respective political or industry circles until accusations become impossible to ignore.
“Now that we’re finding out that it was such an open secret, you know, I hear this so many times. Bill Clinton, it was an open secret in Arkansas. Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein, even Larry Craig,” Maher said, citing a litany of past scandals.
He questioned why it takes so long for these “open secrets” to come to light, suggesting that the media and political establishments on both sides of the aisle are complicit.
“What is going on here, where it takes so long for the open secret to — because I seem to remember that, back in the old days, like when JFK was president, we heard, well, the media used to protect politicians then. They knew what JFK was doing, but it was just something they didn’t report on. Is it any different now? Apparently not.”
Maher also took aim at partisan hypocrisy, noting that while Republicans are quick to condemn Swalwell, they have overlooked misconduct in their own ranks, citing the E. Jean Carroll case against former President Donald Trump. He concluded that neither party has a monopoly on decency, arguing that both sides are guilty of protecting their own.
“It seems like a lot of times, the liberals, as long as it’s our liberal, we don’t care, and we don’t talk.”
The Allegations: A Pattern of Predatory Behavior
Swalwell’s rapid political implosion began in early April 2026 when a series of devastating allegations emerged. At least five women have now accused the former congressman of sexual misconduct ranging from harassment to rape.
The most harrowing account came from Lonna Drewes, a 50-year-old model and software entrepreneur who held a press conference in Beverly Hills on April 14. Drewes alleged that Swalwell drugged, raped, and choked her in his West Hollywood hotel room in 2018.
“He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness. I thought I died,” Drewes said, her voice breaking as she recounted the alleged attack.
Drewes said she had met Swalwell on several occasions and believed he was offering her professional connections to further her software company. She claims he lured her to his hotel room by saying he needed to pick up paperwork before a political event.
“When I arrived at his hotel room, I was already incapacitated, and I couldn’t move my arms over my body. He raped me, and he choked me. And while he was choking me, I lost consciousness. I thought I died,” she told reporters.
Another woman, a former congressional staffer, alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions when she was too intoxicated to consent. The first incident allegedly occurred in 2019, and the second in a New York hotel room after a 2024 charity gala. She said she woke up to find Swalwell assaulting her and that he ignored her pleas to stop.
Three other women have also come forward, accusing Swalwell of sending them unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos, including a video in which he allegedly pleasured himself on an airplane.
Swalwell has denied all allegations of criminal wrongdoing, though he has admitted to making “mistakes in judgment” in his personal life and apologized to his wife, Brittany Watts.
The Investigations: DOJ, Local DAs, and House Ethics
The cascade of accusations has triggered multiple investigations at both the federal and local levels.
- Department of Justice (DOJ): A source familiar with the matter confirmed that the DOJ has opened an investigation into the multiple sexual assault allegations against Swalwell.
- House Ethics Committee: The committee opened an investigation into whether Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee under his supervision, adding an institutional consequence to the political fallout.
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department: The department’s Special Victims Bureau is actively investigating Drewes’s allegation.
- Manhattan District Attorney’s Office: The DA’s office is investigating an allegation that Swalwell assaulted a woman in a New York City hotel room in 2024.
The FBI has also been involved in a separate but related matter: the potential release of decade-old investigative files concerning Swalwell’s ties to a suspected Chinese intelligence operative named Christine Fang, also known as “Fang Fang.” Swalwell has demanded that FBI Director Kash Patel not release the files, calling the move a “smear attempt” to undermine his gubernatorial campaign.
Political Fallout: From Front-Runner to Resignation
Before the allegations surfaced, Swalwell was considered the Democratic front-runner in California’s 2026 gubernatorial race to replace the termed-out Gavin Newsom.
But within days of the first report in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 10, his campaign imploded.
- April 10: The Chronicle publishes its first report detailing a former staffer’s allegations. House Democratic leaders, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, call for Swalwell to end his campaign.
- April 12: Swalwell suspends his gubernatorial campaign, saying the fight over the allegations was his alone, not his campaign’s.
- April 14: Swalwell announces he will resign from Congress. In his resignation statement, he said: “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made against me — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
- April 16: Swalwell formally resigns from the House of Representatives.
His resignation removes him from the jurisdiction of the House Ethics Committee, which had opened its own investigation, but leaves him exposed to criminal probes at the state and federal levels.
The political ripple effects have reshuffled the California governor’s race. According to a post-Swalwell Emerson College poll, Republican Steve Hilton now leads the field with 17% support, while Democrat Tom Steyer and Republican Chad Bianco are tied at 14%. Former Biden Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and progressive Rep. Katie Porter each poll at 10%.
The Fang Fang Connection: A Lingering Shadow
Even before the sexual assault allegations, Swalwell’s ties to a suspected Chinese spy had dogged his political career.
Christine Fang, also known as “Fang Fang,” was a student at California State University, East Bay, who began cultivating ties with Swalwell when he was a Dublin city council member. She allegedly bundled donations for his campaign and recommended interns for his office.
The FBI briefed Swalwell about their suspicions in 2015, at which point he says he cut off all contact with her. He was never accused of any wrongdoing in the espionage case, and a House Ethics Committee investigation opened in 2021 was closed without action.
However, in March 2026, reports emerged that FBI Director Kash Patel was seeking to release the decade-old investigative files, prompting Swalwell to issue a cease-and-desist letter and accuse Patel of a “horrendous abuse of power.”
What’s Next for Swalwell
- Criminal Investigations: The DOJ, LA County Sheriff’s Department, and Manhattan DA are all actively investigating. Swalwell could face criminal charges if any of the probes yield sufficient evidence.
- Civil Lawsuits: The accusers could file civil suits for damages. The statute of limitations for sexual assault varies by state and the timing of the alleged incidents.
- Loss of Income: Swalwell’s net worth is estimated at just $415,500, and his legal fees are likely to be substantial.
- Personal Fallout: His wife, Brittany Watts, has deleted her social media accounts and has not made any public statement. The couple has three young children.
FAQ: The Eric Swalwell Scandal
Q: What exactly did Bill Maher say about Eric Swalwell?
A: Maher called Swalwell a “f–king creep,” said his “creepdar” went off when Swalwell was a guest on his show, and criticized the political/media establishment for allowing his alleged misconduct to remain an “open secret.”
Q: How many women have accused Swalwell?
A: At least five women have come forward with allegations ranging from sexual harassment to rape.
Q: What are the most serious allegations?
A: Lonna Drewes has accused Swalwell of drugging, raping, and choking her in 2018. A former staffer has accused him of sexually assaulting her on two occasions when she was too intoxicated to consent.
Q: Is Swalwell under criminal investigation?
A: Yes. The DOJ, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and Manhattan DA are all investigating.
Q: Has Swalwell admitted to anything?
A: He has denied all allegations of sexual assault and criminal wrongdoing. He has admitted to making “mistakes in judgment” in his personal life and apologized to his wife.
Q: What happened to his political career?
A: He suspended his gubernatorial campaign and resigned from Congress in April 2026.
