Eric Swalwell’s campaign spends $150K more on lawyers as he remains in hiding

Disgraced ex-Rep. Eric Swalwell’s zombie campaign is continuing to still cover legal fees with donors’ money as he prepares for potential court battles over sexual misconduct allegations that ruinf his political career.

The former California gubernatorial candidate reported paying around $150,000 in campaign funds to the law firm Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP between May 17 and June 30, according to financial disclosures filed Friday.

He had already shelled out $50,000 to the firm before May 16, the Post previously reported.

The law firm declined comment to media outlets, but Swalwell has used the firm for legal guidance since 2016, paying over $300,000 over the years to respond to “politically motivated actors.”

Swalwell’s questionable practice of paying attorneys with campaign funds — even after he resigned from Congress and suspended his gubernatorial campaign — comes as California ethics investigators continue probing more than $300,000 in payments made to celebrity defense attorney Sara Azari, who has defended Swalwell to the media on the allegations against him.

A spokesperson for the the California Fair Political Practices Commission recently told The California Post that there have been no updates on any investigations.

Swalwell’s stunning political collapse began in April after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published allegations from multiple women accusing the former East Bay congressman of rape, sexual assault and other misconduct. Swalwell has denied the allegations while acknowledging what he described as “mistakes in judgment.”

He suspended his campaign for governor on April 12 before resigning from Congress days later.

Swalwell will need all the legal help he can get as he is the subject of multiple investigations by prosecutors in Manhattan and Los Angeles County over alleged rape incidents.

In light of all this, California Rep. Ro Khanna (D) and Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R) introduced a bill this week to ban the use of federal campaign funds for costs related to sexual misconduct allegations.

The legislation would prohibit candidates from spending federal campaign donations on settlements, judgments, private investigators and lawyers related to sexual misconduct claims. Legal expenses would be reimbursable if they are found not liable for the alleged misconduct.

“Our bipartisan legislation addresses a basic principle: money donated to support a political campaign should not become a personal legal-defense fund for alleged sexual misconduct,” Khanna said in a statement.

Swalwell has had a history of spending campaign money on eyebrow-raising items, from chauffeured black cars to booze deliveries and babysitters.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters