Rachel Hurley's Post, this may explain why women don't always come forward when assaulted.

[Swede]

Ladies.
I HATE to have to state the obvious - but some of y'all are annoying the shit out of me.
As women - we should know this by now.
The reason why the Eric Swalwell accusers did not come forward sooner is that they thought they were the only ones.
Just look at what happened to Anita Hill, Christine Blasey Ford, Andrea Constand, E. Jean Carroll, and so many others. Women stay quiet all the time when a powerful man hurts them because they think maybe it was their fault, or they're overreacting, or assume no one will believe them - or worse, that they will be the one whose life gets blown up for saying it out loud.
That is how this works. Not because the abuse did not happen - but because isolation is part of the system that protects men like this. Each woman thinks she is alone until someone else speaks, and then another, and then another. By the time the public hears about it, people start asking why they did not come forward sooner - when the real question is why we keep pretending we do not understand exactly why women stay silent.
They did not feel empowered to speak until they realized they were not the only ones.
These women started coming forward in November of last year - and it took this long for them to build a coalition and feel protected enough to come forward.
We've seen this happen so many times before - when will we learn?
Oh - and everyone in my comments is talking about how we need to wait to condemn him until there's been an investigation - THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS.
Some of you are asking for investigations in the comments of the investigations.
The receipts are out there - you're just too lazy to look for them.
I said what I said.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18VU4fx3a9/

[EdmondDantes_]

1. So very true

I learned the hard way a long time ago that you don't really know the people you see on TV. It's sad that we still find every reason to not believe victims.

[pandr32]

2. As a lady allow me to reply.

I have been through the system myself more than once. I am well aware of the unpleasantness of it all. During one case a 'rape relief' volunteer urged me to be strong in order to help protect others who may not be as strong as me. I felt that responsibility and took it.
In Canada (where I was facing three men in a second case) a Mountie sat with me in court and walked with me to and from the bathroom or off site until I was safely away. It can be harrowing, but the worst part was the wives and girlfriends who were relentless in their attacks. I had been prepared for the defense, but their behavior was right out of a horror movie.
There was no doubt about what happened--no he said/she said. I had been photographed from head to toe, been swabbed, and the place where I was raped was full of broken furniture and lamps. Neighbors heard me screaming. Still, the defense suggested I was no angel and was known to of had sexual relations in my history.
That said, we would be naive if we said women don't lie. There are many reasons why they might. Also, the social perception that women are frail fails when you compare it to what women actually do and shoulder day after day. The Me Too movement shone a bright light for women to step out into. All kinds of advocates, lawyers, therapists, and others made themselves known and can be reached through a moment of our time. Support that others did not once have (like me) is there for legitimate accusers now. It is still hard and unwanted, but for real survivors the abuse, breach of trust, and violence that often is a huge part--it never leaves. Our inside and outside lives "get blown up" no matter.
Also, the investigations you alluded to are one and recent as the result of this. All his professional life as been pretty unblemished. You can bet Eric Swalwell is co-operating. I hope the accusers do as well.

[Swede]

3. I never alluded anything, this was all Hurley's post.

As a guy, I did not want to step on any toes, and kept my comments out of this post.

[pandr32]

4. You posted it.

[Swede]

6. I posted her post word for word.

[pandr32]

7. My point exactly.

[Swede]

8. So you agree I didn't allude to anything.

Thank you.

[Maru Kitteh]

5. REC X 110K. Those who can only speak of this as part of some tribal "game"

We survivors out here? - we see you. You are not new to us.