Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat known for his unrelenting attacks on Donald Trump, is now under scrutiny himself. Recent reports detail troubling payments made to a staffer from Swalwell’s campaign and political action committee, totaling over $360,000. These payments, which cover everything from “flower reimbursements” to security services, have raised eyebrows—especially from figures like former Federal Election Commission commissioner Hans von Spakovsky. He stated, “This is the type of bizarre inconsistency that should catch the attention of the FEC.”
The payments in question were directed to Darly Meyer, who appears to straddle dual roles as a campaign staffer and the owner of a limousine service. While political campaigns incur varied expenses, the peculiarities of these filings invite skepticism. Payments categorized for security services are particularly worth noting—Meyer reportedly lacks the necessary security license, raising further questions.
Swalwell’s dealings have recently stirred drama in the political arena. Not only has he made headlines with his sharp criticisms of President Trump, but his history includes a scandalous affair with a suspected Chinese Communist Party spy, Fang Fang, which resulted in him being removed from the House Intelligence Committee in 2023. Ironically, Swalwell’s public life includes a memorably awkward moment of flatulence during a live MSNBC interview in 2019—an incident still chuckled about today.
This context makes Swalwell’s short-lived 2019 presidential campaign seem even more absurd. Though he exited before the pack narrowed, one can’t help but see both the comedy and irony of a man with questionable credibility seeking the Oval Office. Despite this baggage, Swalwell maintains an air of arrogance typical among California Democrats who feel insulated from widespread criticism.
In response to Fox News’s inquiries about his expenditure on security, Swalwell’s replies were more about throwing shade at the network than defending his actions. “There’s a direct correlation between the lies Fox tells about me and the death threats that follow aimed at me and my kids,” he quipped on social media, sidestepping any denial of the harmful implications buried within the report.
Concerns about Swalwell’s spending habits extend beyond this latest revelation. Previous FEC filings have detailed a string of questionable expenditures, including lavish dinners and upscale hotels across the globe—Dubai, Berlin, and London have all seen Swalwell’s campaign funds at play. Meanwhile, he’s unceasingly lambasted Trump for far less significant financial dealings that ended in criminal charges, a stark display of hypocrisy.
In 2024, Swalwell pushed for Trump’s withdrawal from the presidential race following a criminal conviction in New York City. Yet, the very same Swalwell had previously dismissed concerns over a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels as unimportant public discourse. That was merely five years earlier, but the shift in Swalwell’s stance is telling. The narrative he constructs offers a stark inconsistency: Payments that once seemed irrelevant according to him should now derail a presidential campaign—yet his own questionable spending remains under the radar.
As the scrutiny on Swalwell heats up, pending investigations by the FEC loom large, driven by calls for accountability. Von Spakovsky emphasized, “Questions about Swalwell’s filing should cause the agency’s auditing arm to investigate whether these were legitimate payments to a legitimate contractor.” This sense of an impending storm should be welcomed by a man who recently thrived on shining a light on others. Finally, the tables may be turning, revealing just how fickle the politics of oversight can be. It’s about time Swalwell faced his own reckoning.
"*" indicates required fields
