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Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher joined in the wave of renewed scrutiny around former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who he described as a \u201cf*cking creep\u201d \u2014 which has prompted fresh debate in Washington over how long allegations and rumors can circulate inside political and media circles before ever becoming public.<\/span><\/p>\n Swalwell, once a prominent Democratic figure and frequent cable news guest during the Trump era, saw his political career collapse in a matter of days earlier this month after a series of sexual misconduct allegations surfaced publicly, including claims of rape and sexual assault. He has since suspended his California gubernatorial campaign, resigned from Congress, and acknowledged \u201cmistakes\u201d while denying the more serious accusations.<\/span><\/p>\n The speed of that fall has only intensified questions about what was known, and when. That <\/span>surfaced again on Saturday when Bill Maher <\/span>addressed the situation on air<\/span><\/a>, describing what he said was a long-standing perception of Swalwell that never made it into mainstream reporting until recently.<\/span><\/p>\n WATCH:<\/strong><\/p>\n \ud83d\udca5NEW: Bill Maher on Eric Swalwell: \u201cWe had him on a couple of times. Ask my staff: I never liked him. I don\u2019t have good gaydar \u2014 but I got creepdar. I always thought this guy was a f*cking creep. I never liked him.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/QCMWJoU0hw<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jason Cohen \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@JasonJournoDC) April 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cSpeaking of creepy stuff, have you been following the Eric Swalwell case here in California?\u201d Maher said. \u201cI got to say, we had him on a couple of times. Ask my staff. I never liked him. I don\u2019t have good gaydar, but I got creepdar. I always thought this guy was a f*cking creep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Maher then broadened the point beyond Swalwell himself, arguing that similar patterns have played out repeatedly in American politics.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI hear this so many times,\u201d he said, pointing to figures like Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby, and Harvey Weinstein. \u201cYou know, it was an open secret in Arkansas. It was an open secret,\u201d he said of Clinton-era allegations, drawing a comparison to other long-circulating claims that only later became public scandals.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat is going on here, where it takes so long for the open secret to become public?\u201d Maher asked. \u201cI seem to remember that back in the old days \u2026 when JFK was President, we heard, well, the media used to protect politicians, and they knew what JFK was doing, but it was just something they didn\u2019t report on. Is it any different now? Apparently not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The reference to John F. Kennedy underscored Maher\u2019s broader argument: that media institutions, while more expansive today, still exercise selective judgment over what becomes public and when. Those comments come as new reporting and commentary continue to surface suggesting that concerns about Swalwell\u2019s conduct were known inside political and media circles.<\/span><\/p>\n Former Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo warned in a <\/span>now-deleted post<\/span><\/a> that Swalwell\u2019s past behavior would eventually surface during his gubernatorial run, referencing allegations involving interns and inappropriate conduct. Trujillo later said he removed the post after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Swalwell\u2019s campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n\n