California Congressman Eric Swalwell's political career has been marked by a series of controversies that have raised eyebrows and questions about his judgment.
His association with a known Chinese intelligence asset, Fang Fang, his removal from the House Intelligence Committee due to national security concerns, and an unforgettable on-air incident during a 2019 interview on Hardball with Chris Matthews are just a few examples. However, recent revelations suggest a deeper issue at play.
According to Gateway Pundit, Swalwell, who is currently seeking the office of Governor of California, seems unable to meet the basic legal, financial, and residency requirements for the position. Swalwell's mortgage filings indicate his primary residence is in Washington, D.C., not California. This alone, under Article V, Section 2 of the California Constitution and California Elections Code 349, disqualifies him from running for governor.
The situation took a turn for the worse when Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, referred Swalwell to the Department of Justice for potential mortgage fraud. Swalwell retaliated by filing a civil lawsuit against Pulte and the FHFA, claiming that his mortgage listed on the public database mytax.dc.gov was private. He also falsely claimed that he included an affidavit with his mortgage stating it was only his wife's home.
The controversy continued when Christine Prentice, a reporter from Reuters, reached out for a comment on the mortgage fraud allegations. Having had previous experiences with the media, the Gateway Pundit contributor provided a short response, pointing Prentice to his recent articles on Swalwell. As expected, the subsequent Reuters article was critical of Pulte, seemingly in an attempt to protect Swalwell. The Gateway Pundit contributor's quote was taken out of context, leading to a correction request which was promptly addressed by Reuters.
Despite numerous opportunities, Swalwell has yet to identify a legitimate California residence. On his Form 501 candidate disclosure, signed under penalty of perjury, Swalwell listed his "home address" as an office suite belonging to his attorneys at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. This is a potentially criminal act. Furthermore, a search of Alameda County property records shows no property ever owned by Swalwell.
Swalwell's financial record is equally concerning. His 2010 divorce filings reveal a level of financial instability, with disputes over trivial household items. His 2025 Financial Disclosure Report shows that despite earning a congressional salary of $174,000 per year for over a decade, Swalwell remains heavily in debt. He has unpaid student loans of up to $100,000 and credit card balances with American Express and Chase Bank that also reach up to $100,000. Swalwell has even cashed out his pension, a move typically associated with financial distress.
Swalwell's inability to establish legal residency in California, reconcile his mortgage filings, provide a legitimate home address, and demonstrate financial stability after thirteen years in Congress raises serious concerns about his suitability for the governor's office. His response to these issues has been to sue, deflect, and rely on media outlets to run interference.
California, a state already grappling with leadership issues, cannot afford to entrust its nearly $500 billion state budget to a man who cannot manage his own finances, tell the truth on sworn forms, or even provide a legitimate home address. Swalwell is not the reformer he claims to be.
Rather, he is a carefully staged illusion, appearing acceptable from a distance but proving to be fundamentally unfit upon closer inspection.
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