Concerns have arisen among California Democrats regarding Rep. Eric Swalwell’s claim of residing in a rented home. Neighbors in the area he purportedly lived for nearly a decade have reportedly never encountered him.
Swalwell asserts that he has been living with another family in a 1,350-square-foot house in Livermore since 2017, which is owned by the sister-in-law of a local political figure.
However, when surveyed on Wednesday, five adjacent neighbors failed to recognize Swalwell when shown his photo and name.
“I’ve never met him,” remarked Geeta Prusti, who has been a resident of Michel Court for five years.
Lauren Antony, a 19-year-old who lives just a couple of doors down from Swalwell’s stated address, said she had “never seen” him, despite having lived on the street all her life.
Swalwell’s odd living situation and frequent campaign expenses for luxury hotels in and around his district have sparked skepticism about his claim of California residency.
At the purported home, running shoes littered the front porch, an abandoned container of cottage cheese was found in the yard, and a faded patio chair leaned against a fire pit table. A barking German shepherd could be heard from behind a fenced area.
California law mandates that gubernatorial candidates must have lived in the state for five years before the election, generally deemed as maintaining a consistent residence. Swalwell is married with three children, and they reside in a home in Washington, D.C., valued at around $1.2 million. He’s said to be renting a room on Michel Court for visits back to the area.
Lee Fink, an attorney and representative for the California Democratic Party, expressed that Swalwell’s residency issue has become a significant concern within the party. “There are red flags all over the place. The fact that neighbors don’t recognize him indicates he might not actually be living there,” he commented.
Critiques have intensified, especially given the possibility of a right-wing candidate such as Steve Hilton or Chad Bianco gaining traction if Swalwell is disqualified.
Ryan Hughes, an attorney for billionaire Tom Steyer, has requested an investigation into Swalwell’s residency assertions, while Hilton publicly called for Swalwell’s disqualification from the upcoming election.
Hilton’s campaign echoed concerns about Swalwell’s legitimacy as a candidate, claiming, “This scammer isn’t even in California!”
Michelle Jean, a campaign consultant for another gubernatorial candidate, shared that there’s considerable unease about Swalwell’s situation among Democrats, with implications of potentially negative outcomes should he advance in the primaries.
Swalwell, a former prosecutor, submitted an affidavit insisting he has been a California resident since 2006 and claims he has been in Livermore since 2017. Records show his address is listed as belonging to a local couple who are connected to his previous political mentor.
An affidavit from the homeowner also states that Swalwell and his wife signed a lease for the property in mid-2017. However, Swalwell has not disclosed any leasing documents, and his campaign has refrained from releasing any relevant bank statements.
Instead, he criticized Steyer and the media on social platforms, citing his family’s safety concerns as a reason to keep his address private.
Swalwell has faced scrutiny regarding his residency since a lawsuit was filed in January questioning his Californians standing. A court hearing on this matter is anticipated later this month.
Despite calls for examination from some quarters, California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, have indicated that the law does not require the Secretary of State to validate a candidate’s actual residence.
Furthermore, records indicate Swalwell’s heavy spending on hotels within his district, reinforcing doubts about his residency claims. In just the previous year, he incurred expenses at various high-end hotels, showing a pattern of regular hotel stays rather than a stable living arrangement.
Legal experts have reiterated that candidates must not only reside in California but also show an intent to remain there in order to qualify for the election.
The looming election, with its crowded Democratic field, raises the possibility of a tight race that could see two Republicans in the lead positions, igniting fears within the party that questions surrounding Swalwell’s residency could be a pivotal issue for voters come November.
