A Trump administration top housing official has referred a fourth Democratic official and "vocal critic" of President Donald Trump to the Justice Department over allegations of mortgage and tax fraud, according to reports Thursday.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) — now the fourth Democratic official to face mortgage fraud allegations in the last several months — could be under a potential federal criminal probe over his Washington, D.C. home, according to NBC News.
In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday, Trump attack dog and housing finance director Bill Pulte — who oversees the U.S. mortgage market and also runs Fannie Mae and brother firm Freddie Mac, taking over both company boards and making himself chairman of both organizations — wrote that Swalwell may have made false or misleading statements on his loan documents. The agency's acting inspector general is also reportedly investigating.
Swalwell released a statement to NBC News, explaining he is the latest opponent to face attacks from the Trump administration.
"As the most vocal critic of Donald Trump over the last decade and as the only person who still has a surviving lawsuit against him, the only thing I am surprised about is that it took him this long to come after me," he said.
Trump has repeatedly urged the prosecution of his political opponents, both on social media posts and in speeches.
“Like James Comey and John Bolton, Adam Schiff and Lisa Cook, Letitia James and the dozens more to come — I refuse to live in fear in what was once the freest country in the world,” Swalwell said. “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.”
Each of the accused Trump opponents have denied any wrongdoing.