Sara Azari is representing Swalwell against allegations that he sexually assaulted a former congressional aide and harassed staffers
Disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.) dipped into his gubernatorial campaign’s war chest to pay an attorney representing him against sexual assault charges and for babysitters for his three children, records show.
According to campaign filings released Thursday, Swalwell’s campaign paid $40,000 to Sara Azari, a veteran criminal defense attorney who specializes in “cases where liberty, livelihood, and reputation are at stake.” It is Swalwell’s first payment to Azari; he has typically relied on other lawyers. Azari is representing the former congressman against allegations that he sexually assaulted a former congressional aide and harassed staffers.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office opened an investigation on April 11 after a former aide alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her while she was inebriated after a political event in 2024. The same woman accused Swalwell of raping her while she was drunk in 2019. Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial campaign the same day and resigned from Congress on April 14.
In a statement before the ex-congressman’s resignation, Azari said Swalwell “categorically” denied the assault and harassment allegations, calling them a “calculated and transparent political hit job.” Azari said Swalwell would “pursue every available legal remedy” against his accusers.
Swalwell, who was the frontrunner in the governor’s race before the scandal, also relied heavily on campaign funds to take care of his three children. According to campaign disclosures, Team Swalwell paid around $22,549 in 12 transactions to Swalwell’s longtime nanny, Amanda Barbosa, between January 1 and April 18.
Swalwell has long used his congressional campaign to pay for babysitters for his kids, drawing scrutiny from watchdog groups who say he used the campaign as a personal piggybank. Swalwell earned $174,000 as a member of Congress, and his wife reportedly earned more than $200,000 in salary. The couple, who married in 2016, have struggled to manage their finances and withdrew $145,000 from their retirement accounts between 2020 and 2022, according to the Sacramento Bee. Swalwell also delayed paying income taxes from his congressional salary in some years, incurring penalties for underpayment, the Bee reported.
Swalwell, who has also faced scrutiny over his personal relationship with alleged Chinese spy Fang Fang, has used more campaign funds to pay for babysitters than any other member of Congress—more than $238,000 to various babysitters and daycares since 2019, according to a Washington Free Beacon analysis of campaign finance records.
In 2022, Swalwell unsuccessfully petitioned the Federal Election Commission to allow him to use campaign funds for babysitters while he traveled overseas for official congressional business. Political candidates, including incumbents, are allowed to use campaign funds for childcare, but only when the expense is incurred because of campaign activity.
Swalwell has used his campaign for other extravagant meals and events. The campaign paid $50,000 for Swalwell and his wife to attend the Super Bowl on Feb. 11, 2024, where Swalwell’s hometown San Francisco 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Free Beacon reported.
Swalwell’s campaign and Azari did not respond to requests for comment.
