Donald Trump hasn’t been subtle about his contempt for Rep. Eric Swalwell. In recent years, the president has condemned the California Democrat as “a loser,” “a lowlife,” an “idiot” and a “total sleazebag.” If the Republican has an enemies list specifically focused on members of Congress, it’s probably fair to say that Swalwell is near the top.
With this in mind, few will be surprised by this new report from NBC News.
A top housing official in President Donald Trump’s administration has referred California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell to the Justice Department for a potential federal criminal probe, based on allegations of mortgage and tax fraud related to a Washington, D.C., home, according to a person familiar with the referral. He is the fourth Democratic official to face mortgage fraud allegations in recent months.
And therein lies the problem. Under normal circumstances, seeing a federal agency refer a sitting member of Congress to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution would spark a serious controversy on Capitol Hill. But in 2025, as the Trump administration weaponizes mortgage fraud allegations against the president’s perceived political enemies, the scandal has nothing to do with the accused and everything to do with the accuser.
Indeed, Bill Pulte, the Trump loyalist who leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), has taken it upon himself to target one White House foe after another. NBC News’ report added, “Pulte previously sent criminal referrals to the Justice Department for two other prominent Democratic critics of Trump, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., as well as Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook — who was nominated by then-President Joe Biden — on allegations of mortgage fraud.”
All of Pulte’s targets have denied wrongdoing. What’s more, Pulte himself is at the center of his own scandal, after having fired internal watchdogs who reportedly raised concerns about improperly accessing the mortgage records of Trump’s foes.
On Targeting Political Opponents – Statement by Representative Swalwell pic.twitter.com/mEAGyBXqF7
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) November 13, 2025
“Like James Comey and John Bolton, Adam Schiff and Lisa Cook, Letitia James and the dozens more to come — I refuse to live in fear in what was once the freest country in the world,” Swalwell said in a statement, referring to other White House opponents who’ve been targeted.
Noting a lawsuit the congressman filed against Trump stemming from the Jan. 6 attack, Swalwell’s statement added, “Of course, I will not end my lawsuit against him. And I will not stop speaking out against the President and speaking up for Californians.”
The high-profile Democratic lawmaker, rumored to be eyeing a gubernatorial campaign in the Golden State, concluded, “As Mark Twain said, ‘Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.’ Mr. President, do better. Be better.”
Whether Trump’s Justice Department intends to do anything with Pulte’s referral remains to be seen. Watch this space.
