The Hwood stories and allegations are the lead-in, priming the audience for the main story that is the DC shitstorm. If the DC rape allegations came before the Hwood ones, people would've immediately gotten up in arms about political targeting. Because Hwood came first, people had their shock and awe reaction and are now becoming desensitized. What could have been "There's NO WAY he's a rapist!" will now become "Jesus Christ, another one? OF COURSE he's a rapist...".
Perhaps the audience is ready for the play to begin.