The Federal Election Commission has ordered the campaign of disgraced Democrat Eric Swalwell to return more than $30,000 in general election donations or face the prospect of a formal audit.
According to One America News, the FEC issued an enforcement letter on June 15 to the treasurer of Swalwell for Congress, warning that because Swalwell is no longer a candidate, his committee may not retain general election funds. The letter followed a routine review of the campaigns 2025 year-end report, which revealed contributions designated for the 2026 general election that had not been properly refunded or reclassified.
Federal regulations require campaigns to keep primary and general election contributions strictly segregated, and bar the use of general election money to cover primary debts or ongoing operating expenses. Under FEC rules, once a candidate exits a race or declines to seek re-election, any general election contributions must be returned to donors within 60 days of that decision.
In Swalwells case, the commission attached an itemized list of contributions marked G2026 that did not appear to be remedied, totaling $30,075. The FEC warned that if the campaign fails to correct its filings or respond adequately by the firm July 20 deadline, it could trigger a full audit or additional enforcement measures.
Swalwell abruptly resigned from Congress in April after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, including a former staffer who alleged that in April 2024 she awoke in his hotel room to find him engaging in non-consensual intercourse and refusing to stop after she told him no, according to CNN. Following those allegations, the Manhattan District Attorneys Office opened a criminal investigation into the former lawmakers conduct.
The day before stepping down, Swalwell also abandoned his campaign for California governor in a statement on X. I am suspending my campaign for Governor. To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment Ive made in my past, he wrote, adding, I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made but thats my fight, not a campaigns.
The FEC had already opened a separate inquiry in March into allegations that Swalwell improperly billed childcare expenses to his campaign, raising further questions about his stewardship of donor funds. For many conservatives who have long criticized Swalwells ethics and judgment, the mounting investigations and financial irregularities underscore a broader pattern of misconduct and entitlement too often tolerated within the Democrat establishment.
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