Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) filed a lawsuit against Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, alleging he abused his position by making criminal referrals over mortgage fraud.
According to the lawsuit, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) did not have the authority to obtain the records of several Democrats referred to the Department of Justice.
“Pulte has abused his position by scouring databases at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—two government-sponsored enterprises for the private mortgage records of several prominent Democrats,” the filing states. “He then used those records to concoct fanciful allegations of mortgage fraud, which he referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution. The target of his most recent criminal referral is Plaintiff Eric Swalwell—one of the President’s most vocal and visible critics in Congress.”
The lawsuit asserts that Pulte’s allegations against Swalwell are “patently false.”
“Indeed, Representative Swalwell explicitly disclaimed any intent to occupy the District of Columbia home as his primary residence in a sworn affidavit attached to his mortgage agreement,” the filing argues. “That affidavit made clear that the home would be his wife’s primary residence—not his own. Representative Swalwell was and remains a permanent resident of California.”
It further states that Pulte’s referral is a “gross mischaracterization of reality” and violated the First Amendment, as well as the Privacy Act of 1974.
Swalwell’s lawsuit comes as similar mortgage fraud cases have been brought against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and New York Attorney General Letitia James, although James’ case has since been dismissed.
