California political watchdogs are investigating whether Eric Swalwell’s doomed gubernatorial campaign illegally used donor cash — a huge chunk of which came from Hollywood A-listers — to cover his legal bills after numerous women accused the ex-congressman of rape, sexual assault and other deviant behavior.
The Fair Political Practices Commission launched an investigation into Swalwell and his 2026 campaign committee for governor on May 28 over potential violations of California’s campaign finance law, according to a letter obtained by The Post.
The probe initially centered on a $40,000 payment Swalwell’s campaign made to celebrity criminal defense attorney Sara Azari for legal expenses, which was reported in a mid-April campaign statement.
But in more recent fillings, Swalwell’s payments to the pitbull attorney Azari — who specializes in representing public figures accused of sexual misconduct — exploded to more than a quarter-million dollars, bringing the total tab above $300,000.
The FPPC first demanded answers on May 1, asking Swalwell’s campaign to provide documentation about the Azari payment within 14 days. Less than a month later, the agency notified Swalwell that it had escalated the matter into a formal investigation.
“At this time, we have not made any determination about the possible violations,” Christopher Burton, an assistant chief for the FPPC, wrote in the May 28 letter.
The investigation marks a new front in the shocking collapse of Swalwell’s political career, which imploded in April after a wave of sexual misconduct allegations turned the Democratic firebrand from gubernatorial contender into political radioactive waste.
Swalwell, a former prosecutor before running for Congress, suspended his campaign for governor on April 12 after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN detailed allegations from multiple women accusing the Bay Area congressman of sexual misconduct, including rape and sexual assault.
Four days later, Swalwell officially resigned from Congress, ending the career of one of the Democratic Party’s loudest anti-Trump attack dogs and thirstiest attention seekers, frequently appear on cable news programs and posting awkward social media videos.
Only later was it revealed that Swalwell frequently used Snapchat to send pervy messages to women.
Swalwell, who is married with three children, has denied the assault allegations while acknowledging “mistakes in judgment.”
Azari, the Los Angeles attorney hired to defend him, came out swinging on his behalf after the scandal erupted, declaring that “regret is not rape” — a line that drew a furious rebuke from attorney Lisa Bloom, who represented a woman who accuswed Swalwell of drugging, chocking and raping her.
Neither Azari nor Swalwell responded to The Post’s request for comment.
The FPPC’s probe now turns the spotlight on Swalwell’s unusual use of campaign money.
Swalwell’s run for governor was largely fueled by deep-pocketed Hollywood donors in the first few weeks of the campaign. Contributors included A-list actors like Sean Penn, Robert De Niro and Jon Hamm.
Other mega-rich powerbrokers who backed Swalwell include Bryan Lourd, CEO of Creative Artists Agency, investor and talent agent Michael Kives, and billionaires Ari Emanuel and Stephen Cloobeck.
Despite suspending his campaign for governor, Swalwell has collected more than 20,000 votes in Tuesday’s primary election. He remains in control of more than $2.6 million, according to his last campaign filings.
It seems much of that money will now be tied up in the legal fight of Swalwell’s life.
