Swalwell Sues FHFA Director, Alleging Politically Motivated Targeting of Democrats
A California congressman has launched a legal challenge against a high-ranking federal official, alleging a intentional and unlawful campaign to weaponize private financial data against political opponents. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte, accusing him of criminally misusing government databases to fabricate allegations of mortgage fraud against prominent Democrats.
The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., claims Pulte “abused his position” by accessing private mortgage records from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – two government-sponsored enterprises – and then forwarding those records to the Department of Justice with unsubstantiated claims of wrongdoing. Swalwell’s attorneys assert that pulte’s actions were timed to coincide with Swalwell’s planned campaign for California governor, aiming to damage his reputation and impede his political ambitions.
According to the complaint, pulte’s conduct represents a “gross abuse of power” that violated Swalwell’s free speech rights and the Privacy Act of 1974, which prohibits federal officials from exploiting access to private data to harm political adversaries. The FHFA, the White House, and Pulte himself did not respond to requests for comment as of Wednesday.
This legal action is the latest escalation in a growing controversy surrounding pulte’s investigations into the financial records of Democratic figures. Pulte has previously defended his work, stating that “no one is above the law,” but critics point out that his referrals to the Justice Department have exclusively targeted Democrats, despite similar mortgage activity reported among Republicans.
Swalwell is not the only democrat in Pulte’s crosshairs. Allegations of mortgage fraud have also been referred to the Justice Department concerning Senator adam Schiff (D-Calif.), New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, all of whom have denied any wrongdoing and characterized the accusations as politically motivated retribution.
The case against James,brought by a Trump-appointed prosecutor in Virginia,was dismissed by a judge who found the prosecutor,Lindsey Halligan,was illegally appointed. A similar case against former FBI Director James Comey was also thrown out on the same grounds. Cook’s attorneys have accused Pulte of coordinating with the White House to manufacture “flimsy predicates” for these investigations, a claim that echoes concerns raised by others.
Recent developments suggest a broader investigation into Pulte’s actions. Federal prosecutors in Maryland, where Schiff’s case is under review, have begun questioning the actions of Pulte and other Trump governance officials, according to Christine Bish, a Sacramento-area real estate agent and Republican congressional candidate. Bish, who has independently investigated Schiff’s mortgage records as 2020, claims she submitted documents to the FHFA and FBI and believes materials she provided were subsequently shared on former President Trump’s Truth Social platform.
Bish recounted being contacted by Pulte’s staff and asked to provide the “full file” of her research on Schiff. She was later interviewed by officials from the FHFA inspector general’s office and the FBI, with questioning reportedly focused on her communications with others rather than Schiff’s financial records. The acting FHFA inspector general at the time Bish was first contacted, Joe Allen, has since been fired, adding another layer of scrutiny to the situation.
Representative robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and government Reform Committee, has denounced Pulte’s probes as politically motivated and demanded documentation, including communications with the White House, in a letter sent on November 19.
Swalwell’s lawsuit specifically refutes allegations that he falsely claimed primary residence in both California and Washington, D.C.His attorneys argue that Pulte orchestrated a coordinated effort to disseminate damaging information through conservative media outlets, harming Swalwell’s reputation and creating security risks for his family.
“Pulte has combed through private records of political opponents to silence them,” Swalwell stated, emphasizing the importance of the First Amendment. “There’s a reason the freedom of speech comes before all others.”
