Eric Swalwell Says Democrats Are Going to Target Private Citizens Who Have Worked with Trump
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California revealed Monday on CNN that House Democrats plan to use congressional power to go after private citizens who have worked with President Donald Trump and his administration — a chilling admission that underscores the left’s weaponization of government against political opponents.
Speaking with “CNN News Central” co-host Kate Bolduan, Swalwell made the comments in response to the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, who was charged last week by a federal grand jury with lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding related to his September 2020 Senate Judiciary testimony.
“Well, first, we are making it clear that we’re going into the majority a year from now,” Swalwell said. “We have every intention to do that, and so we will bring oversight, accountability. We will subpoena the Department of Justice, but also private actors who have done these drug deals with the administration — college campuses, entertainment companies, law firms — and so accountability is coming.”
Swalwell added:
“And so, one, it’s all coming out. Two, I hope that deters people from doing more of these deals, these one-offs with the president.”
Attempting to defend Comey, Swalwell claimed the charges were politically motivated because the statements in question occurred during President Trump’s first term. “If you’re trying to tell me this is not politically motivated, the statement that they’re referring to where he allegedly lied, Donald Trump was president, so why didn’t you indict him then?” Swalwell said. “The fact that he’s indicting him now just makes it look even more politically motivated, and so I’m pretty confident that this will either be dismissed or Mr. Comey will be acquitted by a jury of his peers.”
The remarks come as Democrats grow increasingly hostile toward Trump’s successful legal battles against left-wing media giants and lawfare-driven firms. CBS was forced to settle a $10 billion lawsuit with President Trump after deceptively editing an October 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris during the presidential campaign. ABC similarly paid Trump $15 million to settle a defamation suit over remarks made by George Stephanopoulos during a contentious segment of “This Week” in March 2024.
The Trump administration has also curtailed access to classified information for multiple law firms accused of partisan lawfare against conservatives. In 2022, powerhouse firm Kirkland & Ellis pushed out former Solicitor General Paul Clement and other attorneys for refusing to abandon Second Amendment clients, including an NRA-backed challenge to restrictive “may issue” concealed carry laws.
Taken together, Swalwell’s threats reflect a disturbing Democratic agenda: to punish private citizens, companies, and legal professionals for daring to work with President Trump or defend conservative causes.