Rep. Swalwell Drops Privacy Lawsuit Against Fhfa’s Pulte

U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) has dropped a lawsuit that accused Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte of violating federal privacy laws.

The parties agreed to the “dismissal of this action without prejudice, with each side bearing its own fees and costs,” according to court filings. The move means that Swalwell could refile or amend the complaint at a later date.

Swalwell, who is running for governor in California, had claimed that Pulte improperly accessed his mortgage records when referring him in November 2025 to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over allegations of mortgage and tax fraud.

The referral asserted that Swalwell falsely identified his Washington, D.C., home as his primary residence to secure more favorable mortgage terms, even though he is a permanent resident of California.

The FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were also listed as defendants. The FHFA did not immediately reply to HousingWire’s request for comment.

The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging violations of Swalwell’s First Amendment rights and the Privacy Act of 1974.

In the complaint, Swalwell said he did not lie on mortgage applications, stating he “explicitly disclaimed any intent to occupy” the D.C. property. A sworn affidavit attached to the mortgage agreement made clear the home would be his wife’s primary residence, not his own, the complaint noted.

Swalwell also alleged that Pulte played a “central role” in President Donald Trump’s efforts to use federal agencies to “seek retribution against his political enemies,” prompting DOJ investigations “nakedly targeting some of the President’s most outspoken critics.”

Swalwell served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial and also sued Trump over allegations that he incited the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Pulte has made similar referrals with other public figures, accusing New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud based on alleged occupancy misrepresentations.