California Representative Eric Swalwell has been embroiled in a series of controversies over the years, from allegations of connections with Chinese spy "Fang Fang," to his expulsion from the House Intelligence Committee due to national security concerns, and his infamous on-air gaffe during a 2019 interview on Hardball with Chris Matthews.
However, a recent revelation has cast a more serious shadow over Swalwell's integrity and his suitability to serve in Congress.
According to Gateway Pundit, despite representing California's 15th District and listing Livermore as his hometown on his official House profile, Swalwell has designated his Washington, DC property as his "principal residence." A public Deed of Trust for Swalwell's DC home, dated April 18, 2022, confirms this designation as a condition of the loan.
The deed includes explicit language making the borrower liable for false or misleading statements regarding occupancy. It states, "Borrower shall be in default if Borrower gave materially false, misleading, or inaccurate information or statements to Lender Material representations include Borrowers occupancy of the Property as Borrowers principal residence."
The U.S. Constitution's Article I, Section 2 mandates that members of Congress must be "inhabitants" of the state they represent at the time of their election. In California, this inhabitancy is maintained by having tangible, verifiable ties to the state, such as owning or renting a residence, registering to vote, paying state income taxes, and holding a California driver's license.
California Elections Code 349 further defines a domicile as "the place in which his or her habitation is fixed" and "the place where a person intends to return and remain."
If Swalwell's true domicile is in Washington, DC, where he has declared his principal residence, he may not meet the basic requirement of being a California "inhabitant." Public records searches have not revealed any home ownership or lease under Swalwell's name in California. The address most often associated with Swalwell in Livermore, 320 Michell Court, is a three-bedroom home owned by the Mrzywka family, who have lived there continuously since 2008, making it highly unlikely that Swalwell resides there today.
Failure to maintain a legitimate residence in California could expose Swalwell to legal, ethical, and electoral repercussions. A false declaration of residency risks tax violations, misrepresentation to lenders, and challenges to his eligibility for re-election.
Politically, the revelation of a Washington DC "principal residence" undermines Swalwell's credibility and fuels accusations of hypocrisy. Swalwell, who rose to power by criticizing his predecessor Pete Stark for being "out of touch" due to Stark's residency outside California, now faces similar accusations.
Swalwell's financial mismanagement may be the root of his inability to maintain a California home. His 2025 Financial Disclosure Report paints a bleak picture. Despite earning $174,000 per year for 13 years in the U.S. Congress, Swalwell has failed to pay down his student loans, remains mired in credit card debt, and has even cashed out his pension.
Swalwell's debts have remained largely unchanged since his first campaign in 2011. For a sitting member of Congress, such persistent financial instability raises serious questions about judgment, responsibility, and ethics.
Like Adam Schiff and Letitia James, who have faced scrutiny over conflicting "primary residence" claims, Swalwell has built his political brand on attacking Donald Trump. After the events of January 6, 2021, Swalwell loudly demanded Trumps removal, and later filed a civil lawsuit accusing Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and Mo Brooks of inciting the Capitol breach.
Swalwell continues to portray himself as a moral authority, insisting that Trump cannot defend democratic ideals like the peaceful transfer of power.
However, Swalwell's own accountability is in question as he appears to fall short of the most basic standards of his office.
There seems to be a lack of truthfulness and transparency about where he actually resides. Swalwell's declaration of his Washington, DC house as his principal residence, without disclosing any verifiable domicile in California, suggests deception towards both his lenders and his voters.
The law is clear: a member of Congress must remain an inhabitant of the state they represent. By seemingly abandoning any genuine California address, Swalwell risks disqualification and betrays the very district that elected him. The man who once accused others of being out of touch appears to have literally moved out of state. If Swalwell cannot demonstrate a legitimate home in California, he should resign immediately, before voters, creditors, and the law force him to do so.
This glaring hypocrisy underscores the need for transparency and accountability in public office, particularly for those who are quick to demand the same from others.
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