Eric Swalwell paid a hotshot Los Angeles lawyer $40,000 in campaign funds to defend him on television against sexual assault allegations that ultimately unraveled his political career, according to a recent financial disclosure.
Swalwell took money from his since-dropped campaign for California governor to pay the princely sum for attorney Sara Azari, who says she specializes in “allegations of sexual misconduct in a post-#MeToo landscape.”
Azari gave a full-throated defense of the disgraced ex-congressman during an interview with NewsNation, saying “regret is not rape” in claiming Swalwell’s alleged victims were just ashamed by any sexual activity they engaged in with him.
“The fact that, you know, a day later, years later, or whatnot, you maybe had shame around what you did, or maybe you were in a relationship and shouldn’t have done what you did, doesn’t make it rape,” she told the network, to which she also contributes.
“I think it demonstrates a tremendous amount of accountability, not because he’s done these things and he’s stepping down, but because how could he properly defend himself and represent his constituency with these serious allegations pending,” Azari added.
The California Post contacted the attorney for comment.
The allegations from several women — including an LA model who said Swalwell drugged, raped and choked her at a West Hollywood hotel — tanked his career political career and left him with few allies.
He is facing criminal investigations in LA and New York, as well as a Justice Department inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct. He has denied all of the allegations against him, only acknowledging “mistakes in judgment I’ve made in the past.”
His congressional seat remains vacant. Gov. Gavin Newsom set a special election to fill the seat in August this year.
Swalwell has hidden from the public eye since the allegations began. His wife and family were recently spotted — without him — at Mexico Los Cabos International Airport after enjoying a week-long luxury escape at a resort dubbed ”a billionaire’s playground.”
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