Attorney Eric Swalwell is accused of illegally paying a nanny with campaign funds
Swalwell’s misconduct, assault allegations rock California governor’s race
Congressman Eric Swalwell is facing allegations of sexual misconduct, including rape, and defamation in connection with his California gubernatorial bid. Top Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi, urged Swalwell to drop out of the race amid mounting pressure. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy explains Swalwell’s relationship with a Chinese spy.
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Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., faces allegations of violating immigration and employment laws to keep a nanny in the U.S., including allegations that he paid her with campaign money while she was not authorized to work, according to two newly filed complaints.
A complaint filed Tuesday with the Department of Labor alleges that Swalwell and his wife, Brittany Swalwell, lied to keep their nanny, Amanda Barbosa, employed, according to the New York Post.
In another complaint filed in February with the Department of Homeland Security by California filmmaker and political activist Joel Gilbert, which was first reported by The Post, Swalwell is accused of paying his nanny with campaign funds for nearly two years while allegedly having no valid work authorization.
“Barbosa appears in numerous social media photos with the Swalwell family between 2023 and 2024, indicating a continued close relationship and ongoing custodial responsibilities despite the absence of official authorization for known work,” the DHS complaint said.
ALLEGED SWALWELL DOG MISBEHAVIOR AS DEM CHALLENGES WALK IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S INAUGURATION.
Attorney Eric Swalwell spoke during a press conference on committee assignments for the 118th Congress at the US Capitol on Jan. 25, 2023, Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Barbosa was first hired by Swalwell – who is running for governor of California – in 2021 after arriving in the US from Brazil on an au pair visa, according to The Post.
Barbosa was paid $3,914 in campaign funds in 2021 and received $46,930 in 2022, according to Federal Election Commission data.
According to an application for employment certification reviewed by The Post, Swalwell began the process of sponsoring Barbosa with a green card in December 2022 as his visa was set to expire.
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Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., delivers a speech as he attends SEIU-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW)’s Gubernatorial Candidate Worker Forum at Meruelo Studios in Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 10, 2026. (ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)
Barbosa later enrolled in a community college and was not allowed to work off-campus under student visa rules, The Post reported. However, pictures on social media appear to show him interacting with the Swalwell children at family events in 2023 and 2024.
FEC records reviewed by the outlet show that $52,262 in “babysitting” campaign expenses were returned to Swalwell, which the complaint says was a workaround to keep Barbosa employed while he was not authorized to work in the US.
The Department of Labor told The Post that the labor certification was approved in 2024. In 2025, Barbosa received $38,905 in campaign funds from Swalwell, according to FEC data.
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Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel at the Rayburn House office building on September 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Wina McNamee/Getty Images)
The complaints come as Swalwell faces separate allegations of sexual harassment.
The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the former employee’s allegations, and three other women later spoke to CNN about allegations of misconduct.
Swalwell dismissed the allegations and faced calls to withdraw his bid for the presidency.
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Representative Eric Swalwell, D-Calif, wears a protective mask while speaking during a House Intelligence Committee hearing on April 15, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images)
“A lot has been said about me today with anonymous allegations, and I thought it was important for you to see and hear from me directly. These allegations of sexual harassment are blatant lies,” Swalwell said in a video posted on Friday.
“They are two lies, they never happened, they never happened. And I will fight them with everything I have.”
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Swalwell’s congressional office for comment, as well as the Department of Labor, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Election Commission.
Fox News Digital’s Madison Colombo contributed to this report.
