The Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has opened an investigation into Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) over allegations of mortgage fraud, Fox News has confirmed.
Swalwell, long known for his outspoken criticism of Trump, claimed he fully expected to be targeted.
“As the most vocal critic of Donald Trump over the last decade and as the only person who still has a surviving lawsuit against him, the only thing I am surprised about is that it took him this long to come after me,” Swalwell said. He added that he refuses to “live in fear” and compared himself to figures such as James Comey, John Bolton, Adam Schiff, and Letitia James.
The California Democrat said he has no intention of dropping his ongoing lawsuit against Trump and vowed to continue speaking out. Citing a quote attributed to Mark Twain, he urged the President to “do better.”
The probe—first reported by NBC News—centers on whether Swalwell obtained millions of dollars in mortgages and refinancing by falsely claiming Washington, D.C., as his primary residence, according to a source familiar with the referral.
The report also states that Federal Housing Agency director Bill Pulte sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi this week, accusing Swalwell of potentially making false or misleading statements on loan documents.
According to NBC’s source, the investigation is examining potential violations including mortgage fraud, state and local tax fraud, insurance fraud, and any related offenses.