Former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s remaining congressional campaign account has shrunk to a little more than $11,000 after the committee sent another $50,000 to high-profile defense attorney Sara Azari and returned nearly $190,000 to donors in the wake of sexual assault allegations that derailed his political trajectory.
The figures appeared this week in newly filed federal campaign finance reports, as California ethics officials continue reviewing more than $300,000 in payments to Azari from Swalwell’s unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign. The overlapping filings are likely to intensify questions about the Democrat’s legal spending and the future of his political operation.
Federal records for Swalwell’s campaign committee, which identify him as treasurer, show an organization with rapidly dwindling resources.
During the second quarter, the committee refunded $189,681 to contributors and spent an additional $106,427 on operating costs, leaving the once-flush campaign with only enough cash on hand to cover a short stretch of recurring expenses.
The filings also disclosed $17,893.35 in previously unreported or uncashed checks. In a separate submission to the Federal Election Commission, the campaign acknowledged that those still involved do not know who received the payments or what they were intended to cover.
The Post previously reported that Swalwell’s campaign had logged more than 100 alcohol delivery charges paid for with campaign funds.
“We have been unable to determine who these checks were written to, for how much, and for what purpose,” the committee told the FEC, noting that the campaign’s former treasurer died in 2023 and that the relevant records were not available. The campaign said the entries were made to reconcile and close long-inactive bank accounts.
The latest $50,000 payment to Azari, who is representing Swalwell as he faces allegations of rape and sexual assault, may draw further examination because the California Fair Political Practices Commission is already investigating whether his gubernatorial campaign improperly used donor funds to pay the attorney after the scandal became public.
Neither Swalwell nor Azari responded to requests for comment.
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Swalwell’s stunning political collapse began in April after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published allegations from multiple women accusing the former East Bay congressman of rape, sexual assault and other misconduct. Swalwell has denied the allegations while acknowledging what he described as “mistakes in judgment.”
He suspended his campaign for governor on April 12 before resigning from Congress days later.
Swalwell’s congressional committee continued paying routine expenses, including bills to Apple and Verizon Wireless, but a $165 charge to Starlink — using Elon Musk’s SpaceX service to keep the phones and internet connected — had people making jokes on social media.
Campaign finance documentarian Rob Pyers quipped that Swalwell — who has not been publicly spotted in months — purchased a Starlink subscription “presumably for internet/TV access in whatever remote location he’s holed up in.”
Swalwell may not be entirely broke when it comes to campaign money, though.
Campaign finance records showed Swalwell’s dormant gubernatorial committee was still sitting on more than $2.6 million as of late May.
