Swalwell Paid Attorney Over $360,000 After Resigning from Congress and Dropping Out of Governor's Race

Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress and dropped out of the California gubernatorial race following sexual misconduct allegations. Fox News reported that he paid attorney Sara Azari over $360,000 from his congressional and gubernatorial campaign accounts in the weeks after the resignation.

A $50,000 payment was made on April 24 to Azari for legal and accounting services, 11 days after Swalwell resigned.

Three additional payments followed in May from the gubernatorial campaign, including one of $250,000 for campaign legal compliance, according to California state records. Swalwell stated in his resignation announcement that he was sorry for mistakes in judgment and would fight the allegations.

Sara Azari posted on X in April that the allegations were a ruthless attempt to smear Swalwell and said in a NewsNation interview that shame around past actions does not make them rape.

Azari said she admired Swalwell for confronting the allegations and removing himself from Congress and the race. Swalwell is facing criminal investigations in New York and Los Angeles as well as a Justice Department inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct. Governor Gavin Newsom set an August 2026 special election to fill the vacant congressional seat.

Swalwell appeared on MSNBC 26 times and on CNN 24 times in 2026.