Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat who has been a frequent critic of Donald Trump, I filed a lawsuit On Tuesday, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Bolte allegedly abused his power to retaliate against a political opponent of the president.
Swalwell alleges that Bolte obtained the lawmaker’s personal mortgage records and used them in violation of U.S. privacy laws and constitutional protections for political expression. Bolte sent a criminal referral to the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this month alleging that Swalwell committed mortgage fraud, which the congressman’s lawyers said was false and a “gross mischaracterization of reality,” according to the court filing.
Federalism lawsuit This marks the latest escalation of accusations by prominent Democrats and other Trump critics that US officials are using the power and resources of the federal government to carry out a retaliation campaign on behalf of the president.
Swalwell alleged that Bolt “abused his position” by searching Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s databases to “concoct fictional allegations of mortgage fraud” against prominent Democratic lawmakers. Bolte also filed mortgage fraud referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Senator Adam Schiff, among others.
According to the lawsuit, Bolte accused Swalwell of claiming his home in the District of Columbia as his principal residence under a mortgage agreement to secure more favorable terms. The lawmaker said his affidavit to the agreement made it clear that the home would be his wife’s primary residence — not his home — and that he would remain a permanent resident of California.
A housing agency spokesman and Swalwell’s attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Damaged reputation
Swalwell Recently launched He campaigned for governor of California with a platform highlighting his record of opposition to the president. His lawyers argued in the complaint that Bolte’s mortgage fraud allegations damaged “Swalwell’s reputation at a critical juncture in his career” and forced him to “distract attention” from his fledgling campaign.
The MP also said the widespread dissemination of information about his family’s home address exposed him and his young children to increased security risks and caused “significant distress and distress”.
“Bolte’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 the Department of Justice for prosecution is unprecedented and illegal,” his lawyers wrote in the complaint.
Bolte has publicly made allegations of mortgage fraud against several prominent current and former officials whom Trump has identified as political enemies. His criminal referral of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook laid the groundwork for Trump’s move to impeach her. Cook has denied the allegations and has so far successfully fought in court to keep her job. The US Supreme Court is scheduled to Hear the arguments almost.
The case against James, a New York prosecutor, led to indictment by a federal grand jury, but it was He tossed it This week a judge concluded that the lead prosecutor was appointed illegally. The administration pledged to appeal. James’ attorneys have separately argued that the case should be dismissed because it is a retaliatory prosecution attempt. Schiff and Cook were not charged.
Swalwell wants the court to order Polte to withdraw the criminal referral to the Department of Justice. He is also seeking an unspecified sum of money in compensation for the alleged privacy violations.
The case is Swalwell v. Bolte, 25-KV-4125US District Court, District of Columbia (Washington).
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