Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has referred Rep. Eric Swalwell to the Justice Department on allegations of mortgage fraud, CNN reports. The DOJ had not confirmed receipt amid confusion; Pulte reportedly spoke to Justice official Ed Martin and mailed a written referral that has not been received. Swalwell called the claims "nonsense," reiterated his active 2021 lawsuit against former President Trump, and vowed to continue speaking out. Pulte’s prior referrals prompted an indictment of Letitia James and an investigation into Adam Schiff.
FHFA Director Bill Pulte Refers Rep. Eric Swalwell to DOJ Over Alleged Mortgage Fraud; Swalwell Dismisses Claims
Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has referred Rep. Eric Swalwell to the Justice Department on allegations of mortgage fraud, CNN reports. The DOJ had not confirmed receipt amid confusion; Pulte reportedly spoke to Justice official Ed Martin and mailed a written referral that has not been received. Swalwell called the claims "nonsense," reiterated his active 2021 lawsuit against former President Trump, and vowed to continue speaking out. Pulte’s prior referrals prompted an indictment of Letitia James and an investigation into Adam Schiff.
11:44 AM, 11/14/2025Politics
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte has referred California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell to the U.S. Department of Justice over alleged mortgage fraud, a source told CNN. The Justice Department has not publicly confirmed receipt of the referral amid internal confusion.
Referral, delivery questions and context
According to one person familiar with the matter, Pulte delivered the complaint orally to Justice Department official Ed Martin and mailed a written copy that Martin had not yet received. Officials said there was confusion at the DOJ on Thursday about whether the referral had been submitted.
Pulte, who leads the FHFA, has publicly made similar referrals involving other high-profile Democrats, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Sen. Adam Schiff. Pulte was seen at the White House on Thursday evening.
“It’s all nonsense,” Swalwell told CNN’s Laura Coates Live Thursday night. “It’s not going to shake me. The other individuals — Schiff, James, (Lisa) Cook and myself — we’re not going to hide under the bed, we’re not going to be silent or go away — we’re going to hold a lawless president accountable.”
Related developments
Pulte’s earlier referrals have led to notable legal action: Letitia James was indicted last month on fraud charges (as reported), and Adam Schiff is the subject of a federal inquiry. These referrals have drawn scrutiny because they target prominent Democrats who have been critics of former President Donald Trump.
Swalwell issued a written statement on Thursday emphasizing his long record of criticizing Trump and noting that he still has an active lawsuit against the former president. In 2021 Swalwell sued Trump and others, alleging that remarks made by the president at the White House Ellipse immediately before the January 6 riot encouraged supporters to commit violence. That case remains pending in federal court.
“Of course, I will not end my lawsuit against him, and I will not stop speaking out against the president and speaking up for Californians,” Swalwell said in his statement.
This report was updated with additional details about the referral and reactions from those involved.