A federal campaign finance filing has brought renewed scrutiny to Eric Swalwell, a Democrat who recently resigned from Congress, detailing nearly $77,000 in expenditures from his political committee during the first three months of 2026. This spending occurred well after he concluded his campaign for California governor in November of the preceding year. The report, filed by "Swalwell for Congress," became public days after his resignation from Congress, which was prompted by an unrelated political controversy.
"lied to all of us" and "lied to the most powerful people in this country." — Ruben Gallego, Former Ally
The detailed filing lists a wide array of expenses incurred between January 1 and March 31, 2026. Among the expenditures are payments for childcare, numerous hotel stays, restaurant bills, travel costs, rideshare services, technology subscriptions, gifts, and charges at private clubs. The total reported spending for this period reached $76,900.
One of the most notable categories of spending highlighted in the report involves payments made to Amanda Barbosa, identified as the family's Brazilian nanny. The filing indicates that Barbosa received thousands of dollars from campaign funds during the first quarter of 2026. Previous records cited in the report further show that Barbosa received $46,930 from campaign funds in 2022, and an estimated $72,000 in childcare-related campaign spending was recorded in 2025.
Beyond the financial aspect, Swalwell and his wife, Brittany Watts, are reportedly facing allegations concerning Barbosa's immigration status. According to complaints referenced in the report, Barbosa was legally authorized to work in the United States from January 2021 through December 2022. Critics allege she continued her employment after this period while immigration sponsorship paperwork was purportedly pending. No criminal findings have been reported in connection with these specific claims.
The campaign finance report also itemizes multiple charges to Stanford Hotels Corporation in San Francisco. These included six separate charges of $1,598 each, spread across two different dates in February 2026. Other listed expenditures include $44 spent at Harry’s Reserve liquor store in Washington, D.C., and two charges totaling $491.40 ($293 and $198.40) at Talay Thai restaurant in Sacramento. Additionally, the filing shows charges of $664 and $520 at The Battery, a private social club. Records also indicate a payment of $637 to Cook Construction LLC for internet and television services. The report further details numerous charges for rideshare services like Uber and Uber Eats, as well as payments to various airlines, technology giants Google and Apple, and video conferencing service Zoom. Smaller purchases included payments to See’s Candies and Spoonful of Comfort, a company known for gift packages, according to the Daily Mail.
Under Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations, campaign committees are permitted to continue spending money even after a candidate has withdrawn from a race or after an election cycle has concluded. These approved purposes can include, but are not limited to, office closure costs, recordkeeping, travel, expenses related to winding down operations, gifts, and certain childcare costs directly associated with campaign duties. This regulatory framework suggests that the central point of contention surrounding Swalwell's post-race expenditures may primarily be political or ethical in nature rather than strictly legal.
The latest campaign finance filing adds to a series of challenges for Swalwell. He recently resigned from his congressional seat amid a separate political controversy, the details of which were not specified in the current report but contributed to significant public pressure. Prior to this, Swalwell had also faced public accusations of sexual misconduct from multiple women. While he has denied these allegations, he issued an apology for what he described as "mistakes in judgment."
The timing of these expenditures, occurring after his gubernatorial campaign had concluded and as he faced other public pressures, has drawn criticism. Ruben Gallego, a former political ally, openly criticized Swalwell, stating he "lied to all of us" and "lied to the most powerful people in this country." The disclosure of these financial details has intensified questions regarding the appropriate use of donor money, particularly after a candidate has formally exited a statewide campaign.
