
<p>In a previous commentary, I dealt with the relationship between money, power and sex in politics. In the vast majority of the past political sex scandals the behavior was between consenting adults &#8212; and in a few cases with underage consenting partners (still a crime). But there is another class. They are more than cheaters. They are predators who take sex by brute force.</p>



<p>Sex predators, like Eric Swawell, make no sense to me. As a person of modest means and limited power, I have never found it desirable or necessary to pay for sex or to force myself on anyone – and I have had a very satisfying sex life. One would assume that men with money, power and movie star good looks could have their pick of bed mates without shelling out money, raping or preying on kids. Logic suggests that those in the public eye would be the most circumspect when it comes to inappropriate sexual behavior. But noooooo.</p>



<p>So, why do they?</p>



<p>In addition to Swalwell, there have been a surprising number of prominent people being accused of one form of sexual assault or another – including violent rape and pedophilia. Of all the presidents with robust sexual lives – from Thomas Jefferson to today – only three have been accused of sexual assault by self-proclaimed victims, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. But there have been a large number of non-political celebrity predators in virtually every field.</p>



<p>News and Entertainment Figures</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Matt Lauer (NBC News Anchor)</strong> 2017: Fired following a detailed complaint from a female colleague for &#8220;inappropriate sexual behavior&#8221; in the workplace. NBC Chairman Andrew Lack stated that while it was the first formal complaint in Lauer&#8217;s 20 years at the network, there was reasons to believe it was not an isolated incident. He was terminated &#8220;for cause&#8221; with no severance</li>



<li><strong>Harvey Weinstein</strong><strong> (film producer, co-founder of Miramax) </strong>2020: Accused by more than 80 women of rape, sexual assault, and harassment spanning decades. Convicted in New York (2020) and Los Angeles (2022) and currently serving a lengthy prison sentence.</li>



<li><strong>R. Kelly</strong> <strong>(musician)</strong> 2021/22: Two convictions on sex trafficking, producing child pornography and sex with minors, Sentenced to 30 years in prison.</li>



<li><strong>Bill Cosby</strong> <strong>(actor/comedian)</strong> 2018: Accused by dozens of women of drugging and sexually assaulting them. Convicted in 2018 of aggravated indecent assault. Sentence vacated in 2021on technical grounds.</li>



<li><strong>Sean &#8220;Diddy&#8221; Combs</strong> <strong>(music mogul/entrepreneur)</strong> 2024: Facing more than 120 lawsuits alleging rape, sexual assault and sex trafficking – including minors. Convicted of sex trafficking.</li>



<li><strong>Kevin Spacey</strong> <strong>(actor)</strong> 2017: Accused by at least two dozen men of sexual misconduct and assault &#8212; including minors. Multiple trials resulted in acquittals or dropped charges.</li>



<li><strong>Danny Masterson (actor, </strong><em><strong>That &#8217;70s Show</strong></em><strong>)</strong> 2023: Convicted of raping two women. Sentenced to 30 years in prison.</li>



<li><strong>Russell Brand</strong> <strong>(comedian/actor)</strong> 2000: Accused by multiple women of rape, sexual assault, and abuse. Police investigation was closed without charges.</li>



<li><strong>Armie Hammer (actor)</strong> 2021: Accused by multiple women of sexual assault, abuse, and manipulation &#8212; including graphic messages. Claimed the encounters were consensual. No criminal charges filed.</li>
</ul>



<p>Business Leaders and Executives</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Roy Price</strong> <strong>(former Amazon Studios executive) </strong>2017: Accused of sexual harassment and assault by producers, including Isa Hackett. Resigned.</li>



<li><strong>Steve Wynn</strong> <strong>(casino magnate, Wynn Resorts founder)</strong> 2018: Accused by multiple women (including employees) of sexual assault and harassment. Resigned and some civil suits settled.</li>



<li><strong>Les Moonves</strong> <strong>(former CBS CEO)</strong> 2018: Accused by multiple women of sexual assault and harassment. Resigned.</li>
</ul>



<p>Civic Leaders, Sports, and Others</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Mike Tyson</strong> <strong>(former heavyweight boxing champion)</strong> 1992: Convicted in 1992 of raping an 18-year-old beauty pageant contestant. Served three years in prison.</li>



<li>J<strong>erry Sandusky</strong> <strong>(Assistant coach at Penn State)</strong> 2011: Arrested on 52 counts of rape and sexual abuse of young boys over a 15-year period. Currently serving what is essentially a life sentence.</li>



<li><strong>Larry Nassar</strong> <strong>(former USA Gymnastics team doctor)</strong> 2018: Convicted of sexually assaulting hundreds of girls and women –many underage. Sentenced to 40–175 years in prison.</li>



<li><strong>Conor McGregor</strong> <strong>(UFC fighter/businessman)</strong> 2024: Accused of sexual assault by multiple women. Civil suits settled.</li>
</ul>



<p>So, what makes people like Swalwell so willing to risk everything? They already know they are in the public eye – and their every move is potentially scrutinized by the media. Their behavior has to be noticed by family, friends and colleagues – though most deny it. It is most certainly known by the victims.</p>



<p>Swalwell is a perfect example. The general public never heard anything about his sexual misbehaviors. When it finally broke into the public spotlight, there suddenly was a long history of alleged assaults that many people knew about. There were even some earlier complaints that were never taken seriously or acted upon.</p>



<p>Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took to the airwaves to exclaim her shock and surprise. She assured the public that neither she nor her colleagues had any idea about Swalwell’s years-long indiscretions. But those claims do not pass the smell test – and inconsistent with the statements of others. How could she not know what so many others in Congress knew? She certainly knew of Swalwell’s involvement with the Chinese spy – and she did nothing. Pelosi did not even remove him for the intelligence committee.</p>



<p>Other members of Congress told reporters that “everyone” knew of Swalwell’s reputation as a womanizer. Online influencer Cheyenne Hunt, executive director of Gen Z for Change – a podcast operation that assembles information on the sexual indiscretions of public figures &#8212; was the person who first brought forth Swalwell’s accusers. She said his behavior was “common knowledge” on Capitol Hill (except to Pelosi) – claiming women routinely were advised “never to be alone in a room with Swalwell”.</p>



<p>So, how do they get away with it for so long? It must be celebrity power. Victims, family, friends and colleagues alike fear some level of retribution if they reveal what they know. It may be overt intimidation or inferred intimidation – pure fear. Others, like Pelosi, look the other way because they need Swalwell’s power – his ability to command the attention of the media, to raise money and provide critical votes.</p>



<p>They support him until he becomes a political liability – and then they run like rats escaping a sinking ship. An example is Swalwell’s close friend, Congressman Reuben Gallego. When the first story broke, Gallego took to social media to defend his friend and colleague. When Swalwell’s toxicity level increased, Gallego blasted his old friend and demanded that he resign from Congress. Are we really to believe that Swalwell’s closest friend in Congress was that clueless? Hard to imagine.</p>



<p>Politically speaking, Swalwell is mortally wounded. All that remains is to see how the death throes play out. Arrest and prosecution? Rehab for sexual addiction? Divorce? Religious redemption? Whatever it is, Swalwell is politically dead. His own indiscretion ended his political career just as he was hoping to move up to higher office. His best option in terms of legacy is to be forgotten – as so many on the list of sexual predators have been.</p>



<p>Still unanswered is why would a rich, powerful and handsome guy resort to sexual assault? I still do not get it.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Does Money and Power Produce Sex Predators?
