WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell has initiated a federal lawsuit against Bill Pulte, the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, accusing him of misusing confidential mortgage records linked to Swalwell and other Democrats. This legal action follows a recent criminal referral by Pulte to the Justice Department regarding Swalwell’s alleged mortgage fraud.
Key Points / What’s New
- Swalwell’s lawsuit seeks a court order to revoke the criminal referral made by Pulte.
- The lawsuit claims violations of federal law, including infringements on Swalwell’s First Amendment rights.
- Swalwell asserts that the referral is part of a broader campaign against political adversaries of the Trump administration.
Main Story Details
In his lawsuit, Swalwell seeks to invalidate the criminal referral made by Pulte, which he contends was both excessive and unjust. The referral alleges that Swalwell inaccurately declared his D.C. residence as his primary home on a mortgage application, intending to secure better loan conditions. Swalwell has denied these claims, asserting that he provided a sworn affidavit indicating the residence was meant to be his wife’s primary home, not his own.
Swalwell, who has previously served as a manager during Trump’s impeachment trial, argues that Pulte’s actions represent an unlawful abuse of authority. The lawsuit contends that Pulte has played a significant role in what Swalwell describes as a campaign of retaliation against critics of Trump, which includes prominent investigations into selected Democratic figures.
Pulte has yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit. However, his referral to the Justice Department is reportedly part of an initiative aimed at probing alleged mortgage fraud among several senior Democratic officials, including Swalwell, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The legitimacy of this initiative has been called into question, given accusations of inappropriate access to confidential mortgage data by Pulte and his team.
The lawsuit further criticizes Pulte’s decision to remove ethics officials and senior executives from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, entities under his oversight, which has raised concerns within the housing sector.
Background
Pulte’s referral to the Justice Department is a notable development in what Swalwell characterizes as a targeted effort by the Trump administration against its political enemies. This pattern of investigation, also involving attempts to probe figures such as Schiff and James, has faced scrutiny over its execution and the allegations driving it. On a related note, recent federal court rulings have dismissed other legal actions stemming from similar motives, underscoring the contentious environment in which these cases are unfolding.
