Brownstein’s statements have been so off the purpose the place even host Audie Cornish needed to remind him Republicans have been poised to expel Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX) after the sexual affair scandal that helped result in a loss in his main.
Cornish needed to push again on Brownstein with point out of grown Republican help to expel Consultant Tony Gonzales (R-TX) as a degree towards Brownstein’s allegations of Republican help of sexual abuse, as Brownstein was nonetheless caught on the Republican “coalition”:
Brownstein’s try to not discuss Swalwell took the dialog off monitor and didn’t give the Swalwell dialog its wanted focus. The hijacking of the phase solely mirrored poorly on Brownstein in his try to attenuate Swalwell’s actions, one thing that, apparently, had been an open secret on Capitol Hill and California politics.
The transcript is beneath. Click on “increase”:
CNN This Morning
April 13, 2026
6:16:12 AM Jap
AUDIE CORNISH: So, a growing story this morning. Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell is dropping out of the California Governor’s race as he continues to disclaim sexual assault allegations.
In a publish on X, the Democrat apologized for his, quote, “errors in judgment.” And it was fellow Democrats who pressured his hand.
(…)
6:16:50 AM Jap
CORNISH: All proper, so the group chat is again. I wished to speak about this as a result of this assertion got here from Hakeem Jeffries. He mentioned, “following the extremely disturbing sexual assault accusations towards Congressman Swalwell, We name for a swift investigation into the incident,” and mentioned that that is “unacceptable of anybody, definitely not an elected official, and should be taken critically.”
Ron, why do you assume that Jeffries spoke so strongly on this case, the place we now have seen Congress be very reluctant to expel lawmakers with their tiny minority and majority strains?
RON BROWNSTEIN: Nicely, , there is a basic distinction between the events in the way in which they’ve dealt with. I imply, I simply –
CORNISH: Dealt with sexual assault points.
BROWNSTEIN: – I simply take a look at the velocity at which Swalwell unraveled and was pressured out of the race with stress from fellow Democrats. I imply, Donald Trump had two juries, , in civil circumstances, uh, adjudicate that he had dedicated, uh, sexual abuse, I believe is the phrase below New York Legislation, defame somebody by denying it. And, , there was nothing like that on the Republican facet.
And that doesn’t solely replicate sort of views of elites. I imply, when you drill down into the way in which voters in every coalition view allegations of sexual abuse, it’s fairly completely different. And so –
CORNISH: However can I cease right here? The CNN reporting right here – And I am simply going to the CNN reporting right here. And he has denied this.
BROWNSTEIN: However –
CORNISH: – from CNN, their report was {that a} former Swalwell staffer claimed that he raped her.
BROWNSTEIN: And its – and its, and – what occurred is what ought to have occurred. I am simply saying it’s placing the distinction between what did not occur. I imply, the truth that Democrats-
[CROSSTALK]
CORNISH: However now you have got the D.A.’s legal professional truly investigating –
SARA FISCHER: You realize, what is the huge distinction right here is the mobile phone, okay? Eric Swalwell, our consultant Swalwell did quite a lot of this communication on Snapchat.
BROWNSTEIN: Yeah.
FISCHER: There’s quite a lot of this talked about how he despatched lewd photos. And I believe a part of this, and why he swiftly stepped down, is as a result of there may be a digital path of a number of the stuff that Donald Trump by no means had. And I believe that makes it a lot more durable for him to simply say, oh, this by no means occurred. I do assume there’s in all probability a digital footprint, and he’s conscious of that. And that’s the place there’s a –
BROWNSTEIN: I believe there’s quite a lot of proof of what Donald Trump did as nicely
FISCHER: one hundred pc.
BROWNSTEIN: You realize, however the level is –
CORNISH: I believe I hear her saying that Swalwell can also be attempting to get forward of what may transform specific messages or pictures. And you’ve got had a number of girls –
BROWNSTEIN: It was immediately untenable for him to stay within the race. And based mostly on these accusations, it ought to have been untenable for him to stay within the race. I am simply saying that, , we’re being reminded that we’re working in sort of very completely different political worlds –
CORNISH: Let me add one other thought then –
BROWNSTEIN: – that displays not solely the elected officers, however once more, the electorates. The coalitions themselves.
CORNISH: Republican Tony Gonzales of Texas, okay, additionally going through an expulsion vote. He is been accused of inappropriate sexual conduct with a staffer. I am bringing this up simply to counter your level that you will have a Congress expelling two members.
BROWNSTEIN: And two extra.
FRANCESCA CHAMBERS: And I believe that these allegations towards Eric Swalwell put the main focus again on Tony Gonzales in a method that I believe, as we’re discussing right here, , it had moved away slightly bit within the sense that you just additionally had a recess.
You realize, they’re coming again. That is squarely on the main focus now. You may have lawmakers are getting requested about it on tv. Republican lawmakers who have been saying on tv yesterday, sure, I believe each of them.
(…)
