Rep. Eric Swalwell has been referred to the Justice Department for a federal criminal probe on allegations of mortgage and tax fraud.
The California Democrat is the fourth to face such allegations from the Trump administration.
The probe will investigate allegations of millions of dollars in loans and refinancing based on Mr. Swalwell declaring his primary residence as Washington, first reported by NBC.
Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and an ally of President Trump, sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday alleging that Mr. Swalwell may have made false or misleading statements in loan documents, according to reports.
The investigation is into possible mortgage fraud, tax deceit at the state and local levels, insurance deception and any related crimes, according to NBC.
“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,” Mr. Swalwell said on social media.
The president has publicly called for the prosecution of people, some of whom are his political opponents.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, is facing prosecution on mortgage fraud charges, and both Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and Sen. Adam B. Schiff, California Democrat, are facing allegations. All three have denied wrongdoing.
“Like James Comey and John Bolton, Adam Schiff and Lisa Cook, Letitia James and the dozens more to come — I refuse to live in fear in what was once the freest country in the world,” Mr. Swalwell said in his statement. “Of course, I will not end my lawsuit against him. And I will not stop speaking out against the President and speaking up for Californians.”
Mr. Swalwell was involved in a House committee investigation into Mr. Trump’s alleged 2016 election collusion with the Russians, a claim the president calls the Russia hoax. The congressman also sued the president over his role in the Capitol riots of Jan. 6, 2021, and played a role in both of Mr. Trump’s impeachment proceedings.
The DOJ probe comes on the heels of MSNBC reporting that two sources confirmed the lawmaker has “all but decided he is running for governor” in California.
He could make an announcement as early as next week, according to the outlet.
