Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., one of former President Donald Trump’s most outspoken critics, is facing scrutiny over inconsistencies in his campaign’s Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings that list multiple explanations for more than $360,000 in payments to a Haitian American staffer.
FEC records from both Swalwell for Congress and his Remedy PAC—dating back to 2021 and continuing through last month—show more than 75 payments to a staffer named Darly Meyer, with the reasons for the disbursements varying widely. The payments range from as little as $53 to more than $12,000 per transaction.
Over the years, Meyer has received varying annual totals, including more than $120,000 across 27 payments in 2024. He appears to be on track to receive a similar amount in 2025.
According to the filings, the campaign listed several different reasons for the payments—ranging from “travel expenses” and “car service” to “security services” and “salary.” Other reimbursements included “personal travel expense reimbursement,” “event flowers reimbursement,” and postage costs.
Background and Business Ties
Meyer also operates a limousine company, CYD Global Car Service, based in North Hollywood. The business advertises luxury chauffeur and corporate shuttle services focused on high-end travel.
Beyond his professional work, Meyer helps manage a Facebook community called CaliHaitians – Haitians in Az, Ca, Nv, Hi, Or, Wa, a “progressive” group of over 3,000 members that aims to foster stronger ties among Haitian professionals in the U.S. The group’s description states it seeks collaboration with “head members of groups or organizations able to provide professional services to strengthen the community” and invites organizations with more than 500 members to partner “for the betterment of Haiti and its children.”
Among the group’s other administrators is Guerline Jozef, co-founder and executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA). The nonprofit describes itself as dedicated to “ending racist border policies like the Remain in Mexico Policy and Title 42” while supporting migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Swalwell’s Response
When contacted for clarification about Meyer’s role and the reason his payments shifted from “security services” to “salary,” the Swalwell campaign declined to elaborate. Swalwell’s only statement was: “Darly protects me and my family.”
He later posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Fox News Digital had asked why he spent $350,000 on security, joking, “Maybe I should send [the reporter] the bill?”
Public records from California’s Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, however, show no record of a security license under Meyer’s name. When reached for comment, Meyer simply replied, “No comment.”
Legal and Ethical Concerns
Hans von Spakovsky, a former FEC commissioner and current senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said the varying descriptions on Swalwell’s filings represent “the type of bizarre inconsistency that should catch the attention of the FEC.”
He added that such irregularities “should cause the agency’s auditing arm to investigate whether these were legitimate payments to a legitimate contractor.”
History of Lavish Campaign Spending
This is not the first time Swalwell’s financial disclosures have prompted questions. His campaign has previously reported large sums spent on luxury travel and hospitality, including high-end hotels and private transportation across international destinations such as Dubai, Paris, Berlin, and London.
In 2023, Fox News Digital reported that the campaign spent nearly $17,000 on Just Dreaming Yacht Charters, a San Francisco-based company offering private yachts for up to 40 passengers, listed as a “fundraising expense.”
FEC records also show three payments totaling nearly $1,700 at Dubai’s Burj Al Arab Hotel, known as one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. During the final quarter of 2023 alone, Swalwell’s campaign spent about $90,000 on travel, including stays at 1 Hotel San Francisco, Austin Proper Hotel, and Times Square Edition in New York.
Earlier filings from 2022 indicate similar spending patterns, with nearly $60,000 in travel expenses recorded within just six weeks—among them $1,752 at Hotel La Maison Champs-Elysées in Paris.
