Former Representative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, made payments totaling over $360,000 to attorney Sara Azari from his congressional and gubernatorial campaign accounts shortly after resigning from Congress and withdrawing from the gubernatorial race. A payment of $50,000 was made on April 24 for "Legal [and] Accounting Services," raising questions about its purpose, especially in light of allegations of sexual misconduct that affected his political career. Additionally, Swalwell's campaign made three payments to Azari in May, including a $250,000 payment for "campaign legal compliance," according to California state records.
Following allegations from multiple women regarding his behavior, Swalwell faced significant scrutiny, leading to a loss of support from prominent Democrats. Azari has defended Swalwell publicly, stating that the allegations are part of a coordinated effort to damage his reputation. In his resignation announcement, Swalwell acknowledged past mistakes while denying the allegations against him. He is currently under investigation in New York and Los Angeles, as well as by the Justice Department regarding the allegations.