Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, after Pulte referred Swalwell to the Justice Department earlier this month for an investigation into alleged mortgage and tax fraud.
Swalwell, who announced a run for California governor last week, filed a 19-page civil complaint in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., accusing Pulte of improperly obtaining his mortgage records from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and of violating his privacy. The lawsuit alleges the Trump administration has pursued a pattern of political retribution through the courts.
“Pulte’s brazen practice of obtaining confidential mortgage records from Fannie Mae and/or Freddie Mac and then using them as a basis for referring individual homeowners to DOJ for prosecution is unprecedented and unlawful,” the complaint states.
Pulte has made similar criminal referrals for other Trump critics, including Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook. The FHFA did not respond to a request for comment.
Swalwell’s suit says disclosure of his mortgage records harmed his reputation “at a critical juncture in his career: the very moment when he had planned to announce his campaign for Governor of California.” It also contends that before President Trump reassumed office in January 2025 he threatened to punish political opponents and has acted on those threats since returning to office.
Separately, James’s criminal case was dismissed Monday after a judge found the interim U.S. attorney who obtained her indictment was improperly appointed; James has argued the prosecutions are vindictive and selective. Trump moved in August to remove Cook after Pulte accused her of misrepresenting information on mortgage documents; Cook has sued, and the Supreme Court will hear arguments in January on whether Trump can remove her from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
Pulte referred Schiff to the Justice Department in May over alleged mortgage fraud, and CBS News has reported the Justice Department is investigating that referral. Schiff has denied wrongdoing.
