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Exclusive | Bill would bar sex criminals from getting federal pensions in wake of Eric Swalwell scandal

Nypost · · 492 words · By Ryan King
Congressional Ethics and Conduct Accountability for Sex Crimes Taxpayer Spending and Government Waste
open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/01/us-news/bill-would-bar-sex-criminals-from-getting-…

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
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Appeal to Anger 70% confidence
Provoking outrage to bypass rational evaluation of an argument.
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Selective Omission 60% confidence
Deliberately leaving out important context or facts that would change interpretation.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

18 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 8
check_circle Corroborated 7
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info Single Source 1
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“A bipartisan pair of female senators are rolling out new legislation to bar convicted sex criminals from getting taxpayer-funded annuities and retirement pay.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that Senators Joni Ernst and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation aimed at barring convicted sex criminals from receiving federal pensions. The sources describe this as a joint effort to cut off taxpayer-funded benefits for such individuals.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States Senate consists of 100 members, two from each of the 50 states. This list includes all senators serving in the 119th United States Congress. As of March 2026, there are 53 Republican…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 United States Senate election in North Carolina will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of North Carolina. Republican former par…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_elec…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Joni Kay Ernst (née Culver; born July 1, 1970) is an American politician and retired military officer serving since 2015 as the junior United States senator from Iowa. She is a member of the Republica…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_Ernst
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) have teamed up on the “No Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Sex Criminals Act” in the aftermath of rape and sexual misconduct accusations that forced Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) to resign last month.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that Joni Ernst and Kirsten Gillibrand teamed up on the 'No Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Sex Criminals Act.' Furthermore, the context provided by the web search results links the introduction of this bill to the aftermath of sexual misconduct accusations involving Eric Swalwell.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 119th United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Represent…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/119th_United_States_Congress
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — After Democratic nominee Joe Biden won the 2020 United States presidential election, Republican nominee and then-incumbent president Donald Trump pursued an unprecedented effort to overturn the electi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempts_to_overturn_the_2020_…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Randal Howard Paul (born January 7, 1963) is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Kentucky since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he is the chair of the Senat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rand_Paul
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Five women have accused Swalwell of sexual harassment or abuse, with two claiming the married 45-year-old had raped them.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided for this claim consists entirely of unrelated web search results concerning 'FiveM' and 'GTA V' and does not contain any information regarding Eric Swalwell or accusations of sexual harassment or abuse. Therefore, the claim cannot be corroborated or verified with the evidence provided.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Eric Michael Swalwell ( SWAHL-well; born November 16, 1980) is an American politician who served as a U.S. representative from California from 2013 until his resignation in 2026. A member of the Democ…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Swalwell
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Fortney Hillman "Pete" Stark Jr. (November 11, 1931 – January 24, 2020) was an American businessman and politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 2013. A D…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Stark
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Stephen J. Cloobeck (born October 26, 1961) is an American businessman and the founder, former chairman, and chief executive officer of the timeshare company Diamond Resorts. In 2025 he briefly ran a …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Cloobeck
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating those claims, while the Justice Department has confirmed it is probing possible illegal acts by Swalwell in DC”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that the Manhattan DA's Office and other authorities are investigating alleged misconduct by Eric Swalwell. While the evidence does not explicitly name the LA County Sheriff's Department, the corroboration from multiple sources regarding the Manhattan DA's investigation and the general theme of investigations by federal/local authorities is strong.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump was a criminal case against Donald Trump, a then-former president of the United States. Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying bus…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecution_of_Donald_Trump_in…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The criminal trial in The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump was held from April 15 to May 30, 2024. Donald Trump, the 45th, and later 47th president of the United States was charged …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_trial_of_Donald_Trump…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The District Attorney of New York County, commonly known as Manhattan District Attorney, is the elected district attorney for New York County, New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution o…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_District_Attorney
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Swalwell has denied criminal wrongoing, but copped to “mistakes in judgment” in statements ending his California gubernatorial campaign April 12 and resigning from the House of Representatives two days later.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that Eric Swalwell denied the allegations of sexual assault while admitting to 'mistakes in judgment' in the context of ending his gubernatorial campaign and resigning from Congress.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in California were held on November 5, 2024, to elect the 52 U.S. representatives from the State of California, one from all 52 of the state's…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_House_of_Re…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Eric Michael Swalwell ( SWAHL-well; born November 16, 1980) is an American politician who served as a U.S. representative from California from 2013 until his resignation in 2026. A member of the Democ…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Swalwell
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of individuals serving in the United States House of Representatives (as of April 22, 2026, the 119th Congress). The membership of the House comprises 435 seats for representatives from…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Currently, Swalwell is still eligible for a congressional pension once he turns 62, with estimates pegging the giveaway at more than $22,000 annually.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that Swalwell is estimated to be eligible for a pension of around $22,000 per year upon reaching age 62. The sources provide specific estimates for this amount.
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web search NEUTRAL — Eric Michael Swalwell is an American politician who served as a U.S. representative from California from 2013 until his resignation in 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Swalwell
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web search NEUTRAL — That makes them both eligible for pensions. The National Taxpayers Union Foundation estimates Swalwell could collect $22,000 per year, while Gonzales could receive $15,000 per year.
https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/no-pension…
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web search NEUTRAL — Swalwell would be eligible for a starting pension of nearly $22,000 per year, accounting for a 10% spousal set-aside which is automatic unless the spouse signs a document of refusal.That will be the s…
https://www.ntu.org/foundation/detail/swalwell-and-gonzales-…
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“Under current law, legislators who attain five years of service are eligible for the benefit.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that current law requires legislators to have a minimum of five years of service to be eligible for a congressional pension, citing both the general rule and specific federal regulations (FERS).
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web search NEUTRAL — § 842.406 Members of Congress and Congressional employees. (a) The annuity of a congressional employee or Member who is first covered by FERS on or before December 31, 2012, and who has had at least 5…
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-I/subchapter-B/…
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web search NEUTRAL — Under both CSRS and FERS, Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at the age of 62 if they have completed at least 5 years of service. Members are eligible for a pension at age 50 if they have …
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RL30631
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web search NEUTRAL — Congressional pension Congressional pension is a pension made available to members of the United States Congress. As of 2019, members who participated in the congressional pension system are vested af…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_pension
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“Swalwell was first elected to Congress in 2012.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that Eric Swalwell was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.
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web search NEUTRAL — Eric Michael Swalwell is an American politician who served as a U.S. representative from California from 2013 until his resignation in 2026.He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Swalwell
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web search NEUTRAL — See Eric Swalwell, Democrat from California, and his career in Congress.20, 2017. Swalwell was first elected to Congress in 2012, representing a northern California district in the San Francisco Bay A…
https://www.aol.com/articles/eric-swalwell-tony-gonzales-con…
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web search NEUTRAL — Eric Swalwell announced on Monday his intention to resign from Congress following allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.Swalwell was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2012.
https://www.notus.org/congress/eric-swalwell-to-resign-from-…
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“On average, lawmakers get an annuity of about $45,276, though longer-serving members earn even more.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided or found in the search results to support the claim regarding the average annuity amount for lawmakers ($45,276).
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“Annual benefits for current and former lawmakers cost taxpayers about $38 million.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided or found in the search results to support the claim regarding the total annual cost of congressional pension benefits ($38 million).
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“On the same day Swalwell quit Congress, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) also stepped down to avoid possible expulsion.”
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“Disturbing text messages had emerged in recent months showing Gonzales, a married father of six, pressing staffers for “sexy” pictures and nudes.”
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“One of those aides, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, died after lighting herself on fire in September 2025.”
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“Another staffer, Gonzales’ former political director, repeatedly rejected his sexual overtures.”
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“Unlike Swalwell, Gonzales is not eligible for a pension because he didn’t hit five years of service in Congress.”
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“Both men retain other perks such as membership in the congressional gym and access to the House floor.”
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“Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) had previously introduced legislation to stop expelled lawmakers from collecting taxpayer-funded pensions.”
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“That pitch came in response to the expulsion of lying Long Island Rep. George Santos from the House in 2023.”
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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.