Swalwell sues Trump housing official Bill Pulte over mortgage fraud allegations

California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell on Tuesday sued a Trump administration official, accusing him of violating privacy laws and the First Amendment in order to refer him to the Justice Department over allegations of mortgage and tax fraud.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte referred Swalwell to the Justice Department for investigation earlier this month over allegations that he committed fraud by referring to his Washington, D.C., home as his primary residence.

Swalwell claimed in the lawsuit, which was filed in Washington, D.C., that Pulte's referral was in retaliation of his criticisms of President Donald Trump, which would violate the First Amendment’s “bedrock prohibition on viewpoint-based retaliation.”

“Director Pulte has combed through private records of political opponents to silence them," Swalwell said in a statement. “There’s a reason the First Amendment — the freedom of speech — comes before all others.”

The congressman, who has denied all fraud allegations, also claimed that Pulte violated the 1974 Privacy Act that forbids federal agencies from disclosing sensitive information about someone for any purpose not authorized by law, according to Politico.

Swalwell additionally accused Pulte of harming his reputation with the referral at a "critical juncture" in his career because he is now running for California governor. However, Swalwell's candidacy was announced after Pulte made the referral. 

Pulte has also referred New York Attorney General Letitia James, California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff and Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to the Justice Department over mortgage fraud allegations.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.