OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
5:48 PM – Wednesday, June 17, 2026
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has notified the campaign of former Democrat California Representative Eric Swalwell that it must return more than $30,000 in general election contributions or face a potential audit.
In an enforcement letter dated June 15th, the commission warned Swalwell’s (D-Calif.) campaign treasurer that because he is no longer running for office, those general election funds must be refunded to donors.
The regulatory warning stems from a routine review of the “Swalwell for Congress” 2025 year-end financial disclosure report. Under the Code of Federal Regulations, political candidates are required to maintain strict accounting methods that distinguish between primary and general election contributions. Federal law strictly prohibits campaigns from using general election donations to pay off lingering primary election debts or operating expenses.
Per FEC guidelines, candidates who exit a race or decline to seek re-election must refund general election contributions to their donors within 60 days of their announcement. The FEC attached an itemized list of donations that “did not appear to be remedied.” These donations, earmarked “G2026,” added up to $30,075.
The commission stated that failure to adequately respond or amend the filings by the immutable July 20 deadline could trigger a formal audit or further enforcement action.
Swalwell abruptly announced his resignation in April amid allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women. The reports included one from a former staff member, who stated that in April 2024, she woke up to Swalwell engaging in non-consensual intercourse with her in his hotel and refusing to stop after she told him “no,” according to CNN.
Following the accusations, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office opened an investigation into the disgraced congressman.
The day before his resignation, Swalwell also dropped his bid for California governor in a statement on X.
“I am suspending my campaign for Governor. To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” he wrote. “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”
In March, the FEC also opened an investigation into Swalwell for allegedly charging childcare expenses to his campaign.
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