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Former Congressman Swalwell Faces New Ethics Complaint Over Alleged Misuse of Position
Former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., is facing a fresh ethics complaint urging the Justice Department to investigate whether he improperly used his congressional position to promote a private business venture. The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), a conservative ethics watchdog, filed the complaint Wednesday, alleging Swalwell personally pitched Findraiser, an artificial intelligence-powered political fundraising tool, to Democratic lawmakers, staff, and campaigns.
This new complaint adds to Swalwell’s mounting legal troubles. The former congressman is already under investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney, Manhattan District Attorney, and the Justice Department following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied while acknowledging past “poor choices” with women.
According to reports by news outlet NOTUS, Swalwell was “peddling the s— out of” Findraiser on Capitol Hill. Federal Election Commission data revealed that the AI fundraising tool secured business from several of Swalwell’s political allies, including Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.).
The complaint also names Yardena Wolf, Swalwell’s former chief of staff and co-founder of Findraiser, who allegedly participated in promoting the business. Wolf eventually left her congressional role to lead Swalwell’s now-defunct gubernatorial campaign.
“Public office is a position of trust, and no individual should be able to skirt accountability for potential abuses of power simply by resigning,” said Kendra Arnold, FACT’s Executive Director, in a statement accompanying the complaint.
Democratic operatives described Swalwell’s promotion of Findraiser as “relentless” and “aggressive,” according to NOTUS. One source told the New York Post, “They were really hitting up everyone. I bet every California member probably got outreach.” More troubling were allegations that Swalwell used the company as a legislative negotiating tactic, with one source claiming, “The only way you get Swalwell to sign on to your bills is if you take this weird call from his chief of staff.”
While lawmakers are permitted to earn passive income from businesses they own, House ethics rules expressly prohibit members and staff from using their “political influence, the influence of their position… to make pecuniary gains.” The 2022 House Ethics Manual specifies that lawmakers and staff must avoid even the appearance of using political influence for financial gain.
According to NOTUS reporting, Findraiser received approximately $60,000 from more than a dozen Democratic campaigns. Swalwell’s congressional financial disclosures listed the company’s value between $200,000 and $500,000.
A former Swalwell spokesperson claimed in March that both Swalwell and Wolf had consulted with House Ethics personnel about Findraiser and maintained that Swalwell receives no income from the company. However, neither Swalwell’s legal team, Wolf, nor Findraiser responded to requests for comment on the new ethics complaint.
“These alleged facts deserve to be criminally investigated,” FACT’s complaint argues. “This is just one issue of many during Swalwell’s problematic tenure in Congress, which among others includes being accused of using campaign funds to pay for a Brazilian nanny in our country illegally and being removed from the House Intelligence Committee over his association with a Chinese spy.”
The Justice Department has not commented on whether it plans to investigate FACT’s complaint.
Swalwell’s troubles extend beyond the Findraiser allegations. He was previously accused of using campaign funds to pay a nanny who allegedly lacked valid work authorization, a matter that has been referred to the Department of Homeland Security for investigation. Additionally, his removal from the House Intelligence Committee in 2023 stemmed from concerns about his connections to Christine “Fang Fang” Fang, a suspected Chinese spy. This decade-old scandal has gained renewed attention amid the recent sexual misconduct allegations, with FBI officials considering whether to release documents about Swalwell’s relationship with Fang.
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10 Comments
This is concerning if true. Misusing one’s office for personal business interests is a serious breach of ethics. I hope the investigation can shed light on the facts and determine if any wrongdoing occurred.
Agreed. Public officials must be held to high standards of integrity. Any abuse of power or self-dealing should be thoroughly examined.
Interesting development in the ongoing saga around Congressman Swalwell. I’m curious to see how this latest ethics complaint plays out and what the investigation uncovers. Transparency is crucial in these matters.
Well said. The public deserves to know the full truth, regardless of political affiliations. Accountability should be the priority here.
Any misuse of public office for private gain is unacceptable. I hope the authorities thoroughly examine the allegations against Swalwell and take appropriate action if wrongdoing is found.
This is a troubling development. Elected officials must uphold the highest ethical standards and avoid even the appearance of impropriety. I look forward to seeing the results of the investigation.
Agreed. Public trust in our institutions is critical, and any breaches of that trust must be taken seriously.
Swalwell seems to have a pattern of questionable behavior. This new allegation adds to the growing list of controversies surrounding him. It’s important that these matters are investigated impartially to uphold public trust.
Absolutely. Elected representatives must be above reproach. If the allegations are substantiated, there need to be serious consequences.
The details in this report raise significant concerns. I hope the investigation is conducted with impartiality and thoroughness to ensure a fair and transparent outcome.