Rep Eric Swalwell referred to DOJ over alleged mortgage fraud

A senior federal housing regulator has referred Rep. Eric Swalwell to the Justice Department for a potential criminal review involving questions about mortgage filings and tax disclosures tied to a Washington, DC, property, according to a person familiar with the referral. This makes Swalwell the fourth Democrat in recent months to face similar allegations.

The referral was issued by Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte, who sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi outlining concerns that Swalwell may have submitted misleading or false information in multiple loan and refinancing documents. The matter has also been forwarded to the agency’s acting inspector general. 

Swalwell, in a statement to NBC News, said he wasn’t surprised by the referral. “As the most vocal critic of Donald Trump over the last decade… the only thing I am surprised about is that it took him this long to come after me,” he said.

According to the source, the referral focuses on several million dollars in loans tied to Swalwell listing his primary residence as Washington. It requests investigations into possible mortgage fraud, state and local tax fraud, and insurance fraud. Officials indicated more reviews could follow.

The escalation comes as Trump has repeatedly urged federal action against political opponents, and some critics have argued the referrals are being used as a political tool. Pulte has previously submitted referrals targeting other prominent Democrats, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff, and Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. All three have denied wrongdoing.

Pulte defended the referrals in past interviews. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re Fed governor Cook or Joe Blow on the street, if you commit mortgage fraud, we are going to report it,” he told CNBC.