California political watchdogs are investigating whether or not Eric Swalwell’s doomed gubernatorial marketing campaign illegally used donor money — an enormous chunk of which got here from Hollywood A-listers — to cowl his authorized payments after quite a few ladies accused the ex-congressman of rape, sexual assault and different deviant conduct.
The Honest Political Practices Fee launched an investigation into Swalwell and his 2026 marketing campaign committee for governor on Could 28 over potential violations of California’s marketing campaign finance regulation, in response to a letter obtained by The Publish.
The probe initially centered on a $40,000 fee Swalwell’s marketing campaign made to movie star felony protection lawyer Sara Azari for authorized bills, which was reported in a mid-April marketing campaign assertion.
However in newer fillings, Swalwell’s funds to the pitbull lawyer Azari — who makes a speciality of representing public figures accused of sexual misconduct — exploded to greater than a quarter-million {dollars}, bringing the full tab above $300,000.
The FPPC first demanded solutions on Could 1, asking Swalwell’s marketing campaign to supply documentation concerning the Azari fee inside 14 days. Lower than a month later, the company notified Swalwell that it had escalated the matter into a proper investigation.
“Right now, we’ve not made any willpower concerning the doable violations,” Christopher Burton, an assistant chief for the FPPC, wrote within the Could 28 letter.
The investigation marks a brand new entrance within the stunning collapse of Swalwell’s political profession, which imploded in April after a wave of sexual misconduct allegations turned the Democratic firebrand from gubernatorial contender into political radioactive waste.
Swalwell, a former prosecutor earlier than working for Congress, suspended his marketing campaign for governor on April 12 after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN detailed allegations from a number of ladies accusing the Bay Space congressman of sexual misconduct, together with rape and sexual assault.
4 days later, Swalwell formally resigned from Congress, ending the profession of one of many Democratic Celebration’s loudest anti-Trump assault canines and thirstiest consideration seekers, ceaselessly seem on cable information packages and posting awkward social media movies.
Solely later was it revealed that Swalwell ceaselessly used Snapchat to ship pervy messages to ladies.
Swalwell, who’s married with three youngsters, has denied the assault allegations whereas acknowledging “errors in judgment.”
Azari, the Los Angeles lawyer employed to defend him, got here out swinging on his behalf after the scandal erupted, declaring that “remorse will not be rape” — a line that drew a livid rebuke from lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represented a girl who accuswed Swalwell of drugging, chocking and raping her.
Neither Azari nor Swalwell responded to The Publish’s request for remark.
The FPPC’s probe now turns the highlight on Swalwell’s uncommon use of marketing campaign cash.
Swalwell’s run for governor was largely fueled by deep-pocketed Hollywood donors within the first few weeks of the marketing campaign. Contributors included A-list actors like Sean Penn, Robert De Niro and Jon Hamm.
Different mega-rich powerbrokers who backed Swalwell embody Bryan Lourd, CEO of Artistic Artists Company, investor and expertise agent Michael Kives, and billionaires Ari Emanuel and Stephen Cloobeck.
Regardless of suspending his marketing campaign for governor, Swalwell has collected greater than 20,000 votes in Tuesday’s major election. He stays in charge of greater than $2.6 million, in response to his final marketing campaign filings.
It appears a lot of that cash will now be tied up within the authorized combat of Swalwell’s life.
