Watchdog Releases Report On Member Of Congress Spending
A California Democrat’s campaign expenditures have come under scrutiny for the apparent use of campaign funds to purchase Super Bowl tickets and other lavish items. According to records obtained by Fox News Digital, Rep. Eric Swalwell appears to have spent significant donor funds on luxury accommodations and event tickets, including at the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium.
Rep. Swalwell, a vocal critic of former President Trump, was seen at the Super Bowl on February 11 dressed in San Francisco 49ers attire, raising questions about how he obtained the highly coveted tickets. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings for his campaign committee, which cover the period from January until mid-February, show multiple expenditures related to the Super Bowl.
On February 6, Swalwell’s campaign reported spending close to $22,000 on “event tickets” from the Forty Niners Football Company, LLC, the company that owns the San Francisco 49ers. The filings also showed a reimbursement of $962 for tickets to 49ers’ co-owner Gideon Yu, as well as expenses at Allegiant Stadium, where the 49ers played the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
The FEC filings also revealed a significant expense of $30,900 to the “Las Vegas Raiders,” the NFL team that plays at Allegiant Stadium. The report stated that the expenditure was for “Event Tickets for Fundraising Event,” further raising questions about the purpose of the purchase. Additionally, the campaign had spent nearly $3,000 on “food and beverages” at Alexxa’s Las Vegas, a high-end restaurant and bar located on the Las Vegas Strip.
When questioned about the expenditures, Swalwell’s campaign did not respond. The California Democrat’s committee has a history of spending large sums of money on high-end items, despite admitting to having substantial debts in past financial disclosure reports.
This recent expenditure on Super Bowl tickets and luxury accommodations is not the first time Swalwell’s campaign has splurged on expensive events. In December 2020, the committee reported a purchase of “Fundraising Event Tickets” at Aramark at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Philadelphia Eagles play. The Eagles’ schedule shows they played the San Francisco 49ers just a day before the alleged purchase.
In addition, the FEC filings also showed that the campaign spent over $3,000 in January at the Loews Hotel Miami Beach, known for its notable spa and upscale dining options. The filings also revealed another expense of nearly $1,000 at Mila Miami Beach, a high-end restaurant and cocktail bar.
This latest news comes after a report by Fox News Digital earlier this month, which revealed that Swalwell’s campaign spent over $90,000 on travel expenses in the last three months of 2020, including a stay at the five-star Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai.
It is also worth noting that Swalwell’s campaign has a history of international expenditures. The committee spent thousands of dollars on hotels and restaurants in London and Germany earlier in the year.
Despite multiple attempts to seek a response from Swalwell’s campaign, no comment has been issued on the apparent use of donor funds for personal expenses. This raises questions about the ethical implications of using campaign cash for luxury items, especially during a pandemic when many Americans are struggling financially. As the story develops, it remains to be seen whether Congressman Swalwell will address these allegations and provide an explanation for the significant expenditures.