Swalwell Vows to Target Private Entities That Work With the Trump Administration
This threat is designed to undermine President Trump by intimidating those willing to work with the administration.
U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) announced on CNN's "News Central" Monday that Democrats intend to pursue oversight and subpoenas against private citizens and organizations working with the Trump administration upon regaining House control in 2026, framing it as accountability for "drug deals" involving universities, entertainment firms, and law offices. Swalwell expressed certainty in a Democratic majority "a year from now," stating, "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... Accountability is coming." He added, "I hope that deters people from doing more of these deals, these one-offs with the president."
The remarks followed a federal grand jury's September 25 indictment of former FBI Director James Comey on charges of false statements and obstruction of justice related to his 2020 Senate testimony denying authorization of leaks to media outlets. Swalwell dismissed the case as politically motivated, noting it stemmed from events during President Trump's first term and questioning the timing: "Donald Trump was president, so why didn’t you indict him then? The fact that he’s indicting him now just makes it look even more politically motivated." He predicted dismissal or acquittal for Comey.
Swalwell's pledge extends a decade-long pattern of legal and political actions against President Trump and his associates, initiated during his 2016 campaign and intensifying through impeachments, indictments, and civil suits. In December 2019, the House impeached President Trump on abuse of power and obstruction for withholding Ukraine aid amid investigations into Joe Biden; a February 2020 Senate acquittal followed. A second impeachment in January 2021, post-Capitol riot, charged incitement of insurrection; Senate acquittal occurred in February 2021. Federal indictments followed: 34 felony counts in New York for falsifying business records in March 2023, leading to a May 2024 conviction and January 10, 2025, sentencing; Georgia's August 2023 election subversion charges; Florida's June 2023 classified documents case, dismissed in July 2024; and Washington's August 2023 January 6 election interference indictment, stayed pending immunity review. Civil actions included New York AG Letitia James's 2022 fraud suit, resulting in a $454 million judgment in February 2024, under appeal; and E. Jean Carroll's 2023 sexual abuse and defamation verdicts, awarding $5 million and $83.3 million respectively.
This escalation coincides with Democratic criticisms of the Trump administration for targeting political opponents, labeling Comey's indictment a "constitutional crisis" and "dangerous lurch toward authoritarianism." Similar outcry arose over former National Security Adviser John Bolton's August 2025 probe for mishandling classified information, with Democrats decrying it as retribution. Swalwell's strategy, extending probes to non-governmental entities, mirrors these accusations while advancing a parallel effort to intimidate those working with President Trump, potentially chilling private sector engagement with federal initiatives.
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