Judge Boasberg Takes on Swalwell’s Case
Judge James Boasberg, known for his opposition to former President Trump, is now presiding over Representative Eric Swalwell’s lawsuit that disputes claims of mortgage fraud against him.
The lawsuit was submitted in federal court in Washington on Tuesday and targets William Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Pulte has raised concerns about alleged mortgage fraud involving Swalwell and other political figures opposed to Trump.
The case was officially assigned to Judge Boasberg on Wednesday, as noted in court records.
The rulings made by Judge Boasberg could influence additional mortgage fraud cases initiated by Pulte, which include actions against notable figures such as Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Senator Adam Schiff from California.
In his legal filing, Swalwell contends that Pulte violated the Privacy Act of 1974 by accessing private records related to his home purchase when referring him for potential mortgage fraud charges.
The Privacy Act of 1974 is designed to safeguard citizens’ personal information from being exploited by political opponents.
Swalwell argues that he has been targeted politically due to his frequent criticism of Trump. The California Democrat recently declared his intention to run for governor and played a significant role in both impeachment proceedings against Trump during his first term.
The lawsuit states: “Representative Swalwell’s political actions and views have earned him the ire of President Trump, who routinely attacks Representative Swalwell on social media.”
The filing continues: “Pulte’s referral to the Justice Department was not only a gross mischaracterization of reality but also represented a gross abuse of power that violated the law.”
The lawsuit further alleges that this retaliation infringes upon First Amendment rights.
An appointee of President Obama, Judge Boasberg has faced calls for impeachment from Republican lawmakers who accuse him of judicial activism. They claim he improperly participated in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Arctic Frost investigation by preventing phone companies from informing lawmakers about surveillance activities.
Boasberg also ordered the reversal of deportation flights for gang members headed back to El Salvador and initiated contempt proceedings against the Trump administration during its tenure.
