California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell is facing legal scrutiny after the Trump administration referred him to the Department of Justice, but that allegedly hasn’t swayed him from potentially running for governor of the Golden State.
Swalwell is reportedly considering running for California governor, according to MSNBC.
“Swalwell declined to comment when reached by MSNBC, but a source close to the congressman, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss the private discussions, said Swalwell allies had asked him to run ‘to fill a “fighter/protector” role’ in the mold of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom,” the outlet reported.
The news came hot on the heels of news that the White House referred him to the DOJ over allegations tied to mortgage and tax irregularities.
The referral places Swalwell among several high-profile Democrats now under federal investigation related to real estate filings.
The administration has already targeted Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California, Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook, and New York Attorney General Letitia James in separate probes regarding mortgage documentation.
Swalwell, longtime critic of President Donald Trump, maintains the actions against him are entirely political.
On Targeting Political Opponents – Statement by Representative Swalwell pic.twitter.com/mEAGyBXqF7
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) November 13, 2025
Swalwell released a statement Thursday arguing that his stance against Trump made him an inevitable target.
“The only thing I am surprised about is that it took him this long to come after me,” Swalwell said in a statement Thursday.
He cited his ongoing lawsuit against Trump connected to the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
The referral was initiated by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, who sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi alleging that Swalwell benefited from several million dollars in loans and refinancing agreements tied to claims that his Washington, D.C. home was his primary residence.
🚨 BREAKING — IT’S OFFICIAL: Eric Swalwell has been referred to the DOJ for a CRIMINAL PROBE after potential mortgage fraud was uncovered
Fang Fang’s boyfriend f***ed around, and now he’s about to find out. pic.twitter.com/LV8PXWU9BN
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 13, 2025
Pulte said inconsistencies in the filings warranted a full-scale investigation into possible mortgage fraud, tax-related violations, insurance irregularities, and any other potentially related crimes.
Pulte also flagged what he described as misleading or inaccurate statements in Swalwell’s loan documents.
His letter recommended that federal prosecutors review whether the congressman’s declarations met legal standards and whether any discrepancies were intentional.
Swalwell responded by referencing the administration’s prior actions against notable critics.
“Like James Comey and John Bolton, Adam Schiff and Lisa Cook, Letitia James and the dozens more to come — I refuse to live in fear in what was once the freest country in the world,” Swalwell said.
“Of course, I will not end my lawsuit against him,” he continued. “And I will not stop speaking out against the president and speaking up for Californians.”
“As Mark Twain said, ‘Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.’ Mr. President, do better. Be better.”
The congressman appeared later that night on MSNBC’s “The Weeknight,” where he reiterated that the allegations were untrue.
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Swalwell suggested these cases were part of a broader pattern designed to intimidate political opponents.
During the interview, Swalwell paraphrased his earlier statement, saying he would not be intimidated by an administration that he believed was attempting to silence critics.
He mentioned that he maintained one mortgage and spent his time split between California and Washington, D.C., arguing that the accusations simply reflected Trump’s desire to confront his rivals.
Swalwell pointed to what he said was a predictable pattern, claiming new allegations against yet another Democratic figure would surface soon.
He described the administration’s actions as part of an ongoing cycle of targeting opponents and predicted that the next probe would follow the same template.
“And a spoiler alert for you, there will be allegations next week against somebody that will be false,” the California Democrat remarked.
Eric Swalwell responds to DOJ criminal referral by saying it’s motivated by "Trump going after his political enemies."
He then vows to go after his political enemies. pic.twitter.com/sk01g0nXWq
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 14, 2025
“This is really about Donald Trump going after his political enemies. And no one has been a more vocal critic than me.”
He again alluded to his Jan. 6 lawsuit, noting that he believed the case’s survival in court made him a prime target for retaliation.
“I refuse to live in fear in what was once the freest country in the world,” Swalwell commented.
Swalwell told MSNBC that he does not wake up each day with the intention of fighting Trump but suggested that the president often “gets in the way” of the work he is trying to accomplish.
He argued that he and other Democrats under investigation would not retreat in the face of scrutiny.
“And if he [Trump] thinks for one second that me or Adam Schiff or Tish James or Lisa Cook are going to back down or hide under the bed or shrink, he is wrong,” Swalwell noted.
He described the referral as another attempt by the administration to discredit its opponents.
“This is, again, just Donald Trump doing everything he can to target his enemies,” the politician reiterated.
The widening probe involving mortgage fraud allegations has already had political ramifications elsewhere.
In August, Schiff established a legal defense fund after being notified of the DOJ’s review of his finances.
Bondi appointed Ed Martin as special prosecutor to examine allegations involving both Schiff and James.
Pulte also referred Cook to the DOJ in August, triggering an inquiry into her mortgage filings.
James is already facing prosecution and has pleaded not guilty to similar allegations that also stemmed from Pulte’s referrals.
Swalwell used the MSNBC appearance to argue that the federal referrals highlight the importance of congressional control.
He pointed to the upcoming 2026 midterm elections and said Democrats are positioned to retake the majority.
He referenced California’s Proposition 50, passed overwhelmingly on Nov. 4, which redraws the state’s congressional map and could shift as many as five additional seats toward Democrats.
“These guys think that they can do this because they’re invincible and there are no consequences,” he concluded.
“And a year from now we [Democrats] are going to win the majority. And that’s what we learned last Tuesday when California voters stood up against Donald Trump.”
