California Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Eric Swalwell

On Monday, a Sacramento judge dismissed a lawsuit aimed at disqualifying U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell from California’s gubernatorial race, which raised concerns about his residency in the state. The judge ruled that the lawsuit was procedurally flawed.

Judge Chelean W.L. Chan determined that Joel Gilbert, a right-wing filmmaker and activist who filed the lawsuit, failed to submit the necessary notice prior to oral arguments. This followed a preliminary judgment last Friday that dismissed his case against California’s Secretary of State’s Office.

As a result, Swalwell, who represents parts of the Bay Area and is the leading Democratic candidate, remains on the ballot for the upcoming election on June 2, which seeks to replace Governor Gavin Newsom.

Gilbert expressed his opinion to the press, saying, “At the end of the day, I don’t think the judge would have changed it anyway, so I’m not concerned. I’m literally submitting another appeal now.”

The lawsuit claimed that Swalwell primarily lives in Washington, D.C., and thus does not fulfill California’s requirement of residing in the state for at least five years before the election. A homeowner in Livermore, where Swalwell supposedly rents a room, submitted an affidavit to back this claim.

However, some neighbors from the same cul-de-sac reported they had never seen Swalwell around. For instance, Geeta Prusti, a resident of Michel Court for five years, stated, “I have never met him.”

Interestingly, reports emerged that Swalwell often stays in hotels around D.C. and regularly visits the mansion of a timeshare mogul named Stephen Krubeck in Beverly Hills. It was pointed out that Swalwell had missed several votes in Congress last year, more than any other active lawmaker, while he was posting videos on social media from Krubeck’s residence.

Despite these allegations, Swalwell has maintained that it’s common for Congress members to alternate between D.C. and their home states, insisting that he complies with residency requirements. He also mentioned privacy concerns regarding the publication of his home address.

The recent ruling removes a significant legal obstacle for Swalwell as he moves forward in the race leading up to California’s top two primaries. His legal team did not provide any comments on the matter.