Case: Swalwell v. Pulte

1:25-cv-04125 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Nov. 25, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

On November 13, 2025, William Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, referred Representative Eric Swalwell, plaintiff in this case, to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution on charges of mortgage fraud. The plaintiff alleged that Tulte targeted him for criminal prosecution based on the plaintiff's anti-Trump speech.  Consequently, the plaintiff brought this suit in the D.C. District Court against Pulte (in his official capacities), the Federal Housing Finance Agency…

On November 13, 2025, William Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, referred Representative Eric Swalwell, plaintiff in this case, to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution on charges of mortgage fraud. The plaintiff alleged that Tulte targeted him for criminal prosecution based on the plaintiff's anti-Trump speech. 

Consequently, the plaintiff brought this suit in the D.C. District Court against Pulte (in his official capacities), the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and the Federal National Mortgage Association. The complaint alleged the government's actions violated the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a and were in contravention of the Plaintiff's First Amendment right in accordance with  5 U.S.C. § 706 (Administrative Procedures Act). The plaintiff is being represented by Hecker Fink LLP.

Chief Judge James E. Boasbarg has been assigned to this case. This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (12/5/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71959925/parties/swalwell-v-pulte/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Hecker, Sean (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-04125

Complaint

Nov. 25, 2025

Nov. 25, 2025

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71959925/swalwell-v-pulte/

Last updated Dec. 3, 2025, 12:13 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION, FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY, FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION, WILLIAM J. PULTE ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12099267) filed by ERIC SWALWELL. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Summons to William J. Pulte, # 5 Summons to Federal Housing Finance Agency, # 6 Summons Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, # 7 Summons Federal National Mortgage Association, # 8 Summons to Attorney General, # 9 Summons U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia)(Hecker, Sean) (Entered: 11/25/2025)

1 Exhibit A

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2 Exhibit B

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3 Civil Cover Sheet

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4 Summons to William J. Pulte

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5 Summons to Federal Housing Finance Agency

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6 Summons Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation

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7 Summons Federal National Mortgage Association

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8 Summons to Attorney General

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9 Summons U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia

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Nov. 25, 2025

Nov. 25, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

SEALED DOCUMENT filed by ERIC SWALWELL re 1 Complaint,, (This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Hecker, Sean) (Entered: 11/25/2025)

Nov. 25, 2025

Nov. 25, 2025

3

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Nicolas Y. Riley, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12099931. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ERIC SWALWELL. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Nicolas Y. Riley, # 2 NY Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 DC Certificate of Good Standing, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Hecker, Sean) (Entered: 11/25/2025)

1 Declaration of Nicolas Y. Riley

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2 NY Certificate of Good Standing

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3 DC Certificate of Good Standing

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4 Text of Proposed Order

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Nov. 25, 2025

Nov. 25, 2025

4

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Patricia Butler, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12099977. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ERIC SWALWELL. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Patricia Butler, # 2 NY Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Hecker, Sean) (Entered: 11/25/2025)

1 Declaration of Patricia Butler

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2 NY Certificate of Good Standing

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3 Text of Proposed Order

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Nov. 25, 2025

Nov. 25, 2025

5

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Nigel Johnson, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12100014. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ERIC SWALWELL. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Nigel Johnson, # 2 DC Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Hecker, Sean) (Entered: 11/25/2025)

1 Declaration of Nigel Johnson

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2 DC Certificate of Good Standing

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3 Text of Proposed Order

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Nov. 25, 2025

Nov. 25, 2025

6

SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 11/26/2025)

Nov. 26, 2025

Nov. 26, 2025

Case Assigned to Chief Judge James E. Boasberg. (zmtm)

Nov. 26, 2025

Nov. 26, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Nov. 26, 2025

Nov. 26, 2025

8

ERRATA /CORRECTED COMPLAINT by ERIC SWALWELL re 1 Complaint,,. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Summons to William J. Pulte, # 5 Summons to Federal Housing Finance Agency, # 6 Summons to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, # 7 Summons to Federal National Mortgage Association, # 8 Summons to Attorney General, # 9 Summons to U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia)(Anderson, Trisha) (Entered: 12/01/2025)

1 Exhibit A

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2 Exhibit B

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3 Civil Cover Sheet

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4 Summons to William J. Pulte

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5 Summons to Federal Housing Finance Agency

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6 Summons to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation

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7 Summons to Federal National Mortgage Association

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8 Summons to Attorney General

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9 Summons to U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia

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Dec. 1, 2025

Dec. 1, 2025

RECAP
9

SEALED DOCUMENT filed by ERIC SWALWELL re 8 Errata, 2 Sealed Document, 1 Complaint,, (This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Anderson, Trisha) (Entered: 12/01/2025)

Dec. 1, 2025

Dec. 1, 2025

10

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Nicolas Y. Riley, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12106984. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ERIC SWALWELL. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Nicolas Y. Riley, # 2 NY Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 DC Certificate of Good Standing, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Anderson, Trisha) (Entered: 12/01/2025)

Dec. 1, 2025

Dec. 1, 2025

11

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Patricia Butler, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12106993. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ERIC SWALWELL. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Patricia Butler, # 2 NY Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Anderson, Trisha) (Entered: 12/01/2025)

Dec. 1, 2025

Dec. 1, 2025

12

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Nigel Johnson, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12107000. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by ERIC SWALWELL. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Nigel Johnson, # 2 DC Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Anderson, Trisha) (Entered: 12/01/2025)

Dec. 1, 2025

Dec. 1, 2025

13

Appear Pro Hac Vice

Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that the 10 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Nicolas Y. Riley is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on December 2, 2025. (lcjeb1)

Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that the 11 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Patricia Butler is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on December 2, 2025. (lcjeb1)

Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

MINUTE ORDER: The Court ORDERS that the 12 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Nigel Johnson is GRANTED. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on December 2, 2025. (lcjeb1)

Dec. 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Speech and Religious Freedom

Privacy

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Nov. 25, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The plaintiff is Eric Swalwell, U.S. representative for California's 14th congressional district.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

William J. Plute, Federal

Federal Housing Finance Agency, Federal

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal

Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Constitutional Clause(s):

Freedom of speech/association

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-04125

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Damages

Declaratory judgment

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Retaliation