FHFA Director Bill Pulte Refers Rep. Eric Swalwell to DOJ for Mortgage and Tax Fraud Investigation

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte has referred Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) to the Department of Justice over alleged mortgage, tax and insurance fraud tied to a Washington, D.C., property.

“Updated on: November 13, 2025 / 4:21 PM EST/ CBS News Washington— A Trump administration official has referred California Democratic Rep”

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Multiple reports trace the referral to a letter Pulte sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi and to anonymous sources.

CBS News

NBC and other outlets say the allegations center on whether Swalwell falsely declared the D.C. home as his primary residence to obtain several million dollars in loans and refinancing.

The Department of Justice has declined to comment.

Mainstream and alternative outlets both reported the referral, with variations in emphasis on the evidence and the possible scope of alleged crimes.

Swalwell strongly pushed back, calling the referral politically motivated retaliation by Trump allies and vowing not to be intimidated.

Several outlets quoted Swalwell saying he will continue his 2021 lawsuit against former President Trump and that he will not stop speaking out.

CNN

Some reports said he described himself as one of Trump's most vocal critics.

A number of pieces recorded Swalwell predicting more such referrals but insisting he will press on.

The referral sits amid a broader pattern of criminal referrals and scrutiny targeting prominent Democrats, and media outlets differ in how they contextualize that pattern.

“(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Democratic California Rep”

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Multiple reports name others who have faced similar FHFA scrutiny in recent weeks, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Senator Adam Schiff, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, and former FBI Director James Comey, and note that Pulte's referrals have in at least one instance led to an indictment.

Reporting about the mechanics and sourcing of the referral varies across outlets.

Several outlets report the referral relies on anonymous sources and a letter from Pulte to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Forbes

Other outlets add that the FHFA inspector general or the acting inspector general has been notified or is probing the matter.

Some outlets emphasize that the DOJ and FHFA declined immediate comment, while others mention reporters' outreach to the DOJ and Rep. Swalwell's office.

What happens next remains uncertain: criminal referrals do not guarantee a DOJ probe or charges, and outlets vary in how definitive they present the prospect of legal consequences.

“Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy has the latest on the mortgage fraud accusations on 'The Story”

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Some reports caution that referrals are based on anonymous sourcing and that the DOJ had not confirmed receipt or action, while others connect the referral to previously filed charges against other figures and underscore the political frictions surrounding the probes.

Fox News

Distinct pieces also add different factual details — for example, the New York Post includes a dollar figure tied to the D.C. purchase — but the broader public record remains unclear until investigators or the DOJ provide formal confirmation.