Desperate Rep. Eric Swalwell may have broken ethics rules hitting up colleagues for AI cash

Rep. Eric Swalwell and his former chief of staff aggressively hit up congressional colleagues to support his fledgling AI company — potentially violating House ethics rules, The Post has confirmed through multiple sources.

A report published Friday by NOTUS documented how Swalwell and Yardena Wolf — who left the congressman’s office last year to manage his campaign for California governor — made numerous attempts to hawk their startup, Findraiser, to fellow House Democrats as well as political operatives.

The practice has unsettled Democratic colleagues and raised questions about whether the congressman and his top staffer abused their positions.

“They were really hitting up everyone,” a source with knowledge of the situation told The Post. “I bet every California member probably got outreach.”

A California political strategist and fundraiser said Swalwell frequently elicits eyerolls within the Democratic Party, but his push to profit off of his colleagues’ campaigns felt unseemly.

“Swalwell has been a running joke for 10 years, but this company has been a running joke for consultants and staffers for probably a year and a half,” the source said.

Swalwell and Wolf repeatedly contacted congressional colleagues last year to promote Findraiser through texts, emails, and in-person conversations.

And the outreach wasn’t subtle.

“They described it as a great new way to fundraise that was going to make everyone’s life easier,” a source told The Post, adding that Wolf repeatedly tried to set up a demo of the product.

“We basically just blew her off because we weren’t interested in the product at all.”

The Democratic Party strategist said that Swalwell may have even used the company as a legislative negotiating tactic.

“The only way you get Swalwell to sign on to your bills is if you take this weird call from his chief of staff,” the source said.

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That’s only when Swalwell is in Congress, of course — last year he missed more votes than any active member of Congress, and he has been found to be playing hooky while spending time at a billionaire’s Beverly Hills mansion.

House ethics rules prohibit members from using their position — or the appearance of it — to generate private financial gain.

The House Ethics Committee also cautions lawmakers against promoting or endorsing products tied to them, noting that even the perception of leveraging public office can be problematic.

“Much like Donald Trump, Eric Swalwell appears to be leveraging his position and influence in government for personal gain,” said Kevin Liao, a spokesperson for Tom Steyer’s campaign for governor. “It raises serious questions about his true motivations and character as a public servant: Is Eric Swalwell simply using the levers of power to line his own pockets?”

Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell’s campaign, issued a statement to The Post saying Swalwell “is working to help Democrats win up and down the ticket.“

“Whether that’s through utilizing 21st Century technology or talking to voters directly about the issues that matter most — he will continue to use every tool he can to fight Donald Trump and his MAGA cronies.”

Beasley added, “It is sad to see the desperation of a billionaire willing to do anything to score a few more points in this race, even if it means hurting his own party.”

Wolf declined to comment when reached Friday afternoon, beyond noting they worked with the House ethics committee to conduct all activities above board.

Findraiser was launched in early 2024 and markets itself as an AI-driven tool that helps campaigns analyze donor data and optimize fundraising efforts.

Swalwell, who has been carrying at least $80,000 in student loan and credit card debt in recent years — along with a mortgage above $1 million, has disclosed a stake in the company valued between $200,000 and $500,000.

Beyond Swalwell and Wolf, the only other known member of the company listed with the state is Paul Mandell, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

It’s unclear who else is an investor in the company.

But the company’s footprint so far has been modest — roughly $60,000 in revenue from just over a dozen Democratic campaigns, many tied to Swalwell’s political orbit.

A lawsuit challenging Swalwell’s residency claims in California was recently tossed out by a Sacramento judge, allowing him to remain on the ballot for governor in June’s election.

However, neighbors of the congressman — he’s claimed to rent a home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Livermore since 2017 — told The Post they’ve never seen or met Swalwell.