Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California has filed a federal civil lawsuit against Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, alleging violations of privacy rights and First Amendment freedoms. The 19-page complaint claims that Pulte unlawfully obtained confidential mortgage records from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, then used them to refer individual homeowners to the Department of Justice for prosecution.
Swalwell stated that the charges against him were filed “at a critical juncture in his career,” coinciding with his planned campaign announcement for California governor. The lawsuit alleges that Pulte’s actions represented an “unprecedented and unlawful” practice of targeting political opponents.
Pulte was also involved in bringing criminal referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose charges were dismissed by a federal judge on Monday. The Trump administration has indicated it will appeal the decision. Additionally, Pulte helped initiate referrals against Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff and Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook.
Swalwell shared a statement on social media, asserting that “Director Pulte has combed through private records of political opponents” to “silence them.” He cited novelist George Orwell: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
The Federal Housing Finance Agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
