Dem. Eric Swalwell Further Disgraced As His ‘Secret Kinky Sex Poems’ Are Leaked
As the race to succeed California Governor Gavin Newsom accelerates, Rep. Eric Swalwell finds himself confronting renewed scrutiny—not over his current policy platform, but over writings and actions from his college years that critics argue raise questions about his political evolution.
Swalwell, a seven-term Democratic congressman representing California’s Bay Area, announced his gubernatorial bid in November, joining a crowded field that includes Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and commentator Steve Hilton. While Swalwell has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of President Donald Trump and an advocate for public safety, opponents are highlighting material from his early adulthood that paints a far different portrait.
Decades-old student writings obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that while attending Campbell University in North Carolina from 1999 to 2001, Swalwell experimented with provocative creative expression and sharply critical political commentary. Among the materials is a 2001 poem written for a college creative writing course that depicts an intense encounter between two lovers in highly dramatic and graphic terms. A spokesperson for Swalwell dismissed the poem as youthful writing that does not reflect his adult public service.
More politically consequential are op-eds Swalwell authored during his time at Campbell. In a 1999 column titled “US Political Prisoners: A Cry for Justice,” written under the moniker “The Radically Poetic,” Swalwell called for the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier—two men convicted of killing law enforcement officers in separate high-profile cases. At the time, Swalwell framed his argument as a broader critique of what he described as systemic injustice within the American legal system.
That position contrasts sharply with his more recent messaging. Throughout his congressional career, Swalwell has frequently cited his father’s service as a police chief in Iowa, presenting himself as supportive of law enforcement and first responders. On social media this week, he reiterated that background, pledging as a gubernatorial candidate to fund wildfire prevention, disaster response, and public safety initiatives.
Additional columns from his college newspaper years show a young writer experimenting with political identity. In a 2000 op-ed, Swalwell distanced himself from both major political parties, writing that he did not see a meaningful difference between them and describing himself as belonging to a “Lost Cause” party. He also admitted at the time that he did not vote in presidential elections.
Critics argue that the writings reflect ideological inconsistency and poor judgment. Conservative filmmaker Joel Gilbert, who has sought to challenge Swalwell’s gubernatorial eligibility in court over residency questions, has characterized the materials as evidence of troubling past views. Swalwell has dismissed the residency lawsuit as unfounded and politically motivated.
The renewed focus on his past also revives attention to the 2020 controversy involving alleged Chinese operative Christine Fang, who reportedly cultivated relationships with California politicians, including Swalwell. Although a House Ethics Committee investigation concluded without further action, the episode led to his removal from the House Intelligence Committee.
Supporters counter that youthful writings and early political experimentation are common and that Swalwell’s congressional record should define his candidacy. Over 13 years in office, he has built a profile as a vocal Democratic communicator, particularly on issues involving national security and opposition to Trump-era policies.