Swalwell sues Bill Pulte for allegedly illegally accessing mortgage records
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Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., accused a top housing official of secretly obtaining Democrats’ private mortgage records and weaponizing them to trigger federal criminal investigations, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., Swalwell alleged that Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte abused his position to obtain mortgage records of several Democrats, which he used to file criminal charges with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The civil lawsuit argued that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) did not have this authority. Obtaining, using or leaking private data belonging to some prominent Democrats widely seen as staunch critics of President Donald Trump.
“Today, I filed a civil lawsuit against FHA Director Bill Pulte for violating the Privacy Act and the First Amendment,” Swalwell said in a statement. he said. “Director Pulte scanned the private records of political opponents. To silence them.”
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Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., has filed a lawsuit against Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, accusing him of illegally accessing private mortgage records to trigger a Justice Department investigation. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
According to the lawsuit, Pulte “abused his position” by scanning private records of a number of Democrats, including Swalwell, in government-sponsored databases, and then used those records “to fabricate fanciful allegations of mortgage fraud” and referred them to the Justice Department for prosecution.
The Department of Justice launched an investigation into Swalwell on November 13 for alleged mortgage fraud.
Pulte alleged in his referral to the Department of Justice that Swalwell falsely claimed his D.C. home as his primary residence under a mortgage agreement to help secure more favorable loan terms, the lawsuit said.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., is suing a Trump official who was criminally referred to the Justice Department. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
But the California Democrat’s lawsuit called the allegations in the filing a “gross misrepresentation of fact”; this represented “a gross abuse of power in violation of the law.”
The lawsuit claimed that “the allegations in Pulte’s referral are patently false.”
The Justice Department investigation comes as Swalwell has his sights set on higher office and announced last week that he would launch a campaign for governor of California in 2026. The suit alleges that the release of his personal information damaged his reputation ahead of the gubernatorial campaign and forced him to “expend personal resources” fighting the Justice Department investigation.
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In his complaint, Swalwell added that the “widespread publication of information about the home where his wife and young children lived exposed him to high security risks and caused significant anguish and distress.”
Swalwell claims in his lawsuit that his political views “earned him the ire of President Trump.” The lawsuit points to additional referrals FHFA made to the Justice Department involving political figures critical of Trump, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. and Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook argue that there is a pattern of political retaliation.
A federal judge dismissed the indictment against Letitia James on Monday.
Swalwell argued that Pulte’s “illegal actions” were intentional and “represent a deliberate attack on fundamental democratic norms and a fundamental desire to accomplish exactly what the First Amendment and the Privacy Act exist to prevent: the use of the machinery of government to pacify and silence those who criticize the government.”
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According to a lawsuit filed Nov. 25, D-Calif. Rep. Eric Swalwell is accusing a top housing official of obtaining Democrats’ private mortgage records and weaponizing them to trigger federal criminal investigations. (Getty Images)
Swalwell is seeking damages, a declaration that FHFA violated federal law, and an injunction forcing the agency to withdraw its guidance.
Pulte and the Federal Housing Finance Agency did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
