Disgraced former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell faces fresh scrutiny following reports that he utilized donor funds for hundreds of alcohol and delivery service purchases, totaling nearly $20,000 over a four-year period.
The disclosures, first reported Sunday by the California Post, add a financial dimension to the scandal that forced the 45-year-old Democrat to resign his congressional seat and withdraw from the California gubernatorial race earlier this month.
Pattern of Spending
Federal campaign filings reveal a consistent pattern of spending on delivery platforms. Between 2020 and 2024, Swalwell’s donor-funded campaigns recorded more than 100 separate charges with Drizly, an online alcohol delivery service.
Following Drizly’s merger with Uber Eats in 2024, records show the campaign utilized the Uber app more than 220 times. These transactions totaled more than $19,000.
The Post also highlighted a 2021 trip to Las Vegas, where Swalwell allegedly billed his campaign over $3,100 for restaurant charges and multiple Drizly purchases.
“He Knew Exactly What He Was Doing”
Alex Evans, Swalwell’s former chief of staff, told the California Post that the expenditures were likely intentional. “He knew exactly what he was doing,” Evans said, noting that the spending “might not be the best use of donor money.”
Legal experts suggest the volume of transactions warrants official oversight. “The sheer number of alcohol purchases can raise some questions about whether the campaign funds were being used for a proper purpose,” said Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson.
Context of Misconduct Allegations
The financial revelations coincide with a series of harrowing misconduct claims. Earlier this month, a CNN exposé detailed allegations from a former staffer who accused Swalwell of raping her while she was “heavily intoxicated.”
Three additional women have since come forward with similar claims of sexual misconduct. CNN noted that these accounts are “often tied to episodes of heavy drinking.”
Official Denials
Through his attorney, Sara Azari, Swalwell has “categorically and unequivocally” denied all allegations of sexual assault, labeling them “false, fabricated, and deeply offensive.”
While Swalwell admitted to “mistakes in judgment” in a social media post on April 13, he maintains the specific criminal allegations are a “shameless attempt to smear” his career.
Swalwell’s resignation on April 13 ended a seven-term tenure in Congress. The House Ethics Committee had briefly launched an investigation into his conduct before his departure effectively terminated the probe.
