Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell is facing renewed scrutiny after previously unpublished erotic poetry he wrote as a teenager resurfaced this week, as he mounts a campaign for governor of California.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, Swalwell authored the poems at age 19 while attending Campbell University and contributing to a campus literary magazine called The Lyricist. One poem, titled “Hungover From Burgundy,” describes an intimate encounter between two lovers in vivid and graphic language.
The poem portrays what it calls “formless and magnificent” passion unfolding atop a hotel roof in a “flurry of limbs and nails.” In one passage, the narrator describes being bitten “my anxious arm she bit — my scar is beautiful,” likening the puncture to a vampire’s bite. Another section reads, “Kissing till veins imploded and exploded … for bounded mouths cannot speak of parting.”
The imagery continues into the morning after, describing cracked lips, pale legs, and the emotional and physical aftermath of the encounter.
Swalwell Responds
Swalwell appeared to dismiss the attention in a lighthearted social media post.
“You think my poetry at 19 was bad? Wait til you see my 12-yr old diary,” he wrote on X.
The resurfacing of the poetry comes as the congressman, a former federal prosecutor who once led a hate crimes unit, seeks higher office in California.
Past Controversies Revisited
In addition to the poetry, prior college-era commentary by Swalwell has also drawn renewed attention. According to reporting cited by the New York Post, he wrote as a sophomore about controversial criminal cases involving Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier. Both men were convicted in high-profile killings of law enforcement officers — Abu-Jamal in the 1981 murder of a Philadelphia police officer and Peltier in the 1975 killing of two FBI agents. Supporters of both men have long argued their prosecutions were politically motivated, while law enforcement groups stand by the convictions.
Swalwell’s past association with alleged Chinese intelligence operative Christine Fang, also known as “Fang Fang,” has likewise resurfaced. Fang reportedly cultivated relationships with California politicians and assisted with fundraising for Swalwell’s 2014 congressional campaign, as well as helping place an intern in his office. Swalwell has said he cut off contact with Fang in 2015 after being briefed by American intelligence officials and has denied any improper relationship.
In 2023, the House Ethics Committee concluded its review of the matter without taking further action against him.
Political Implications
The renewed attention to Swalwell’s early writings comes as California’s gubernatorial race begins to take shape. Supporters argue that creative work produced at age 19 should not define a decades-long public career. Critics contend that the writings, along with prior controversies, raise broader questions about judgment and consistency.
Swalwell has not indicated that the renewed scrutiny will alter his campaign plans. Instead, his public response suggests he views the episode as more embarrassing than disqualifying.
As the race for California governor unfolds, the spotlight on his youthful poetry and past associations underscores the increasingly expansive vetting candidates face in the digital age — where decades-old writings can quickly resurface and shape contemporary political debate.
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Big deal! So he wrote exotic poetry as a kid. Talk about dragging the bottom of the barrel to try and derail a political run. How, in the world, could a 25 year old bit or writing affect his ability to be a good political figure, today?
All of this is an asset to his insane constituency. Fang Fang.