Confusion and chaos as Eric Swalwell supporters try to claw back $1.5M in campaign donations

Supporters of disgraced former Congressman Eric Swalwell are having trouble getting their donations back after his stunning political fall after sexual assault allegations.

At least 200 donors want to get back $1.5 million in refunds, according to an internal campaign document viewed by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor days after reports published April 10 by the Chronicle and CNN detailed the Democrat pursuing women inappropriately, including an allegation of rape. He is under investigation by multiple authorities.

Social media influencers who helped bring the accusations to light have urged donors to get their money back from Swalwell. Many donors expressed regret for their financial support.

Kathy Griffin — one of many Hollywood donors who showered Swalwell with cash — said on her podcast she clawed back her $10,000 donation to his campaign and donated it to a progressive media organization.

“I’m very proud I was able to get the donation back from Swalwell-world,” she said.

Others have had a harder time.

Juanita Kizor, an Orinda resident who gave $500 to Swalwell’s campaign just hours before the scandal broke, told The California Post she hasn’t heard anything at all back from the campaign.

She said she reached out to ActBlue, the Democratic online fundrasing platform, which gave her a small percentage back, about 5 dollars.

“I said, ‘Well, what about the 500?’ and they gave me a an email address,” she said. She wrote to the campaign over the weekend and was met with silence. She told The Post she’ll perhaps try again.

Other donors have been seemingly told by the campaign that there’s no guidance. El Sobrante resident Mike Hsieh told the Chronicle that a former campaign staffer apologized for not being able to help.

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“We have not received an authorized procedure or clear direction on the refund process,” the former staffer wrote. “We apologize, as this is not the update we were hoping to provide. If it were up to me and my former colleagues, refunds would be the top priority.”

Meanwhile, Swalwell seems to be holding onto to the cash. Campaign filings show that Swalwell installed himself as treasurer for his defunct campaign for governor, giving him full control of a $4 million money pot.

He has used campaign funds to retain a lawyer to defend against the accusations and perhaps even hire a private investigator.

Those moves have infuriated critics and donors.

“I was very much incensed. It feels truly unjust because it has nothing to do with the campaign,” Hsieh said.

The former candidate has denied the sexual assault accusations. The California Post reached out to the Swalwell campaign’s treasurer contact information for comment.