Former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s Zombie Congressional Fund has dwindled to just over $11,000 after he recently paid $50,000 to defense attorney Sarah Azari and refunded nearly $190,000 to donors. This financial distress follows Swalwell’s controversial departure from Congress amid sexual assault allegations.
Recent federal campaign filings reveal these details, as California ethics investigators are still probing approximately $300,000 paid to Azari during Swalwell’s unsuccessful gubernatorial bid. This situation raises more questions about the Democrat’s growing legal expenses as his political life unravels.
Swalwell’s federal filing lists him as the finance director, illustrating the committee’s rapid decrease in funds. In the second quarter of this year alone, the committee refunded $189,681 but also incurred $106,427 in operational costs, leaving barely enough funds for another month’s bills.
He reported $17,893.35 in unreported or uncashed checks, admitting to the Federal Election Commission that no one knows who received the funds or their intended purpose.
Previously, reports indicated that Swalwell charged over 100 fees for alcohol delivery to his campaign. The commission noted they were unable to track the checks’ details, stating that the campaign’s former treasurer passed away this year, leaving behind incomplete records. The campaign claimed these entries were merely for reconciling and closing old bank accounts.
Payments to Azari may face further investigation, as the California Fair Political Practices Commission looks into whether campaign donations were unlawfully used to cover these legal fees following the allegations.
As of late, Swalwell has not responded to requests for comments, and neither has Azari.
Swalwell’s political downfall began in April after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published allegations of rape and sexual misconduct against him from several women, to which he has denied any wrongdoing, attributing his troubles to a “misjudgment.” He suspended his gubernatorial campaign on April 12 and resigned from Congress shortly afterward.
Despite his financial struggles, Swalwell’s congressional committee has still been covering regular expenses, including bills from Apple and Verizon. Notably, a $165 charge to Starlink, Elon Musk’s service, became a topic of social media banter. Campaign finance expert Rob Pyers humorously suggested that Swalwell, who has been largely absent from public view, might have needed this subscription to stay connected wherever he may be.
Interestingly, Swalwell doesn’t appear entirely destitute regarding campaign finances. End-of-May records show more than $2.6 million still sitting in his inactive gubernatorial committee.
