From Hollywood heavyweights to corporate titans and everyday Californians, Eric Swalwell’s donor list spans the elite to average joes.
The California Post reviewed public records and identified more than 1,700 contributors to the disgraced politician’s campaign, with donations ranging from $100 to more than $78,000.
The disgraced ex-Bay Area congressman — who up until a week ago as the Democratic frontrunner in the race for California governor — officially resigned from office Tuesday after a slew of allegations that include rape, sexual assault and other misconduct.
The Post’s review of Swalwell’s campaign records shows that the ex-congressman was able to raise more than $7.3 million from about 1,700 different contributors.
Swalwell courted big money from Hollywood A-listers and special interests to bankroll his campaign, but his fake squeaky clean image also managed to fool hundreds of working-class people who forked over their hard-earned money.
Last week, two bombshell reports detailed the stories of women who say Swalwell exhibited creepy and sometimes sexually violent and deviant behavior, putting an end to his campaign and likely his career. On Tuesday, another woman publicly accused Swalwell of drugging, choking and raping her.
Swalwell has strenuously denied allegations of rape and sexual assault, but he apolgized to his wife over indiscretions that he has so far declined to detail.
Swalwell’s most prominent backers included Hollywood A-listers like Robert De Niro and Jon Hamm — both of whom gave $10,000 — while Sean Penn gave $15,000. Others who plunked down thousands of dollars believing the hype included the late actor and director Rob Reiner ($10K), actors Jon Cryer ($10K) and Ed Helms ($5K), and Bryan Lourd, CEO of Creative Artists Agency ($12,500).
Additional cash infusions came from power players like billionaire Ari Emanuel — the CEO of TKO Group Holdings group gave $39,200 — and investor and talent agent Michael Kives ($10,900). Comedian Kathy Griffin also scraped together $10,000.
Most of the max contributions of $39,200 came from special interests PACs like the California Medical Association, California Dental Association, California Professional Firefighters, California Dairies Inc. and the California New Car Dealers Association PAC.
Money also poured in from businessmen such as venture capitalist Bradley Tusk ($39,200) and Jon Henes ($5K), CEO of C Street Advisory Group, while Elizabeth Naftali ($39K) — a Los Angeles philanthropist and major Democratic donor — funded Swalwell’s campaign along with longtime San Francisco attorney and AI advisor Karen Silverman ($10K).
But Swalwell’s defunct campaign wasn’t just fueled by big donors falsely believing his tale of a devoted family man who would fight for others with integrity. Nearly half of Swalwell’s reported donors gave less than $200 — meaning the congressman may have taken money from people who could really use that cash but believed in the cause.
Swalwell’s abrupt exit leaves his network of donors — from Hollywood elites to working Janes and Joes — searching for a new candidate in a crowded field and volatile race.
