Disgraced ex-congressman Eric Swalwell — who’s accused of raping and sexually assaulting a number of ladies after nights of heavy ingesting — billed an eye-watering quantity of booze deliveries to his campaigns, together with costs throughout a sequence of jaunts to Las Vegas.
Over a four-year interval beginning in 2020, Swalwell’s donor-funded congressional campaigns recorded greater than 100 separate costs with now-defunct alcohol supply firm Drizly, in line with federal marketing campaign disclosures — purchases that even caught his crew off guard.
Whereas the ex-congressman’s boozy marketing campaign spending could possibly be authorized, “it may not be the most effective use of donor cash,” Swalwell’s former chief of workers Alex Evans advised The Submit.
“He knew precisely what he was doing.”
Swalwell’s Drizly spending alone accounted for roughly 1 / 4 of all funds to the service from varied candidates’ campaigns, political committees and PACs since 2019, in line with the Federal Election Fee.
Marketing campaign information present that his tab — totaling roughly $6,100 — additionally overlapped with him curiously taking a number of journeys to Las Vegas in the summertime of 2021.
In July of that yr, Swalwell racked up hundreds of {dollars} in costs for lodge stays on the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, a five-star lodge and on line casino. Swalwell seems to have visited the Cosmopolitan thrice over a 10-day interval that month — on July 9, 12 and 19.
Throughout that interval, he made a number of purchases from Drizly whereas additionally billing his marketing campaign for a $117.54 cost at STK Steakhouse and a $439.57 invoice at Jean Georges Steakhouse at Aria. Fees continued by July 19, together with a $940.01 transaction on the Cosmopolitan, bringing the entire value of his time in Vegas over 10 days to greater than $3,100.
Drizly was folded into Uber Eats in early 2024, and information present Swalwell’s congressional campaigns continued to make use of the Uber Eats foods and drinks supply app greater than 220 occasions after Drizly shut down, together with as not too long ago as this yr. The fees, which don’t element whether or not the purchases have been for meals and/or alcohol, totaled greater than $19,000.
The Submit’s overview of congressional marketing campaign filings discovered that Swalwell ramped up his alcohol purchases with Drizly beginning in Could 2020 in the course of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, billing his donors 36 occasions for a complete of $2,405 by the tip of the yr.
Sen. Ruben Gallego — who has been beneath fireplace for ignoring warning indicators about Swalwell’s conduct, as the 2 generally referred to one another as their “finest buddy” in Congress — was additionally a fan of Drizly. He recorded 14 totally different marketing campaign costs with the alcohol supply service value $814 from 2022 to 2024.
A number of ethics specialists advised The Submit that marketing campaign spending guidelines are fairly expansive, however Swalwell’s booze-buying raised eyebrows.
“On this case, the sheer variety of alcohol purchases can increase some questions on whether or not the marketing campaign funds have been getting used for a correct function,” Loyola Legislation Faculty Professor Jessica Levinson advised The Submit.
“Any individual ought to kind out whether or not these purchases fall inside election legal guidelines,” she added.
Swalwell’s lavish spending on drinks, meals and inns — and even funds to himself — with a congressional marketing campaign account have continued this yr, effectively after he introduced his run for governor.
The Submit solely reported that Swalwell spent a staggering half-million {dollars} on inns throughout his time in Congress.
Separate filings present that Swalwell paid himself virtually $219,000 in marketing campaign funds for childcare, safety and different bills since 2021, whereas additionally racking up extra costs at conventional liquor shops.
“We’re not speaking about someone spending their very own cash,” Levinson mentioned, including that it’s “completely honest” to be scrutinizing Swalwell’s use of marketing campaign funds after his resignation from Congress on Tuesday. “We’re speaking about someone spending donors’ cash.”
Swalwell listed himself as his congressional marketing campaign’s treasurer in a brand new submitting on Friday.
The ex-congressman was the main Democrat within the race for California governor till an unprecedented profession final week following allegations of sexual misconduct.
After two bombshell reviews by which a number of ladies lodged accusations that included rape, sexual assault, and different deviant conduct, Swalwell suspended his marketing campaign and relinquished his seat in Congress. In the meantime, he additionally grew to become the main focus of investigations by the Division of Justice and district attorneys in New York and Los Angeles.
Swalwell employed anti-MeToo motion lawyer Sara Azari and has strenuously denied any wrongdoing whereas apologizing to his spouse and household for “private failings.”
“These accusations are false, fabricated, and deeply offensive,” Azari mentioned in a press release, including that the allegations are “a calculated and clear political hit job designed to destroy the popularity of a person who has spent 20 years in public service.”
4 ladies who spoke to CNN described a sample of inappropriate and, at occasions, aggressive conduct by Swalwell in social and political settings the place alcohol was concerned. The ladies mentioned Swalwell grew to become more and more ahead as he drank, making undesirable advances, making an attempt to provoke sexual contact, and, in some instances, creating conditions they described as coercive or uncomfortable.
Individually, a former staffer who spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle described what she mentioned was an encounter by which Swalwell, after ingesting, made undesirable bodily advances that she didn’t consent to. She additionally accused him of sexual assault.
On Tuesday, Lonna Drewes, a 50-year-old mannequin, accused Swalwell of rape following what she described as an evening involving alcohol. Drewes mentioned she met Swalwell at occasions the place he provided to assist her enterprise and later accompanied him to his lodge room, the place she believes her drink was drugged after consuming alcohol.
She alleged she grew to become bodily incapacitated and that Swalwell raped and choked her till she misplaced consciousness. Swalwell was married and his spouse was pregnant on the time of the alleged incident.
“He created a bodyguard of lies to guard himself and permit this conduct to proceed,” Evans mentioned.
“He’s one of many world’s best liars ever.”
