Rep. Eric Swalwell and a former top aide pushed colleagues to support an artificial intelligence startup tied to them, raising ethics questions about potential misuse of public office, according to multiple sources and a report by NOTUS. The outreach targeted fellow House Democrats and political operatives over the past year.
Swalwell, a left-wing California Democrat, and former chief of staff Yardena Wolf, who now manages his campaign for California governor, promoted the company Findraiser through texts, emails and in-person conversations, sources said. The effort has drawn concern from some Democrats who questioned whether the congressman leveraged his position for private gain, The New York Post reported.
“They were really hitting up everyone,” a source familiar with the outreach said. “I bet every California member probably got outreach.”
Another Democratic strategist said the effort was poorly received among party insiders. “Swalwell has been a running joke for 10 years, but this company has been a running joke for consultants and staffers for probably a year and a half,” the source said.
Sources said the outreach included repeated attempts to schedule demonstrations of the product. “They described it as a great new way to fundraise that was going to make everyone’s life easier,” one source said. “We basically just blew her off because we weren’t interested in the product at all,” the source added.
Another strategist alleged the outreach may have been tied to legislative negotiations. “The only way you get Swalwell to sign on to your bills is if you take this weird call from his chief of staff,” the source said.
House ethics rules prohibit members from using their position, or the appearance of it, for personal financial gain. The House Ethics Committee also cautions against promoting products tied to lawmakers due to potential conflicts of interest.
Swalwell’s campaign pushed back on the allegations. Spokesperson Micah Beasley said the congressman is working to support Democrats and expand fundraising tools.
“Whether that’s through utilizing 21st Century technology or talking to voters directly about the issues that matter most — he will continue to use every tool he can to fight Donald Trump and his MAGA cronies,” Beasley said.
Beasley also criticized political opponents. “It is sad to see the desperation of a billionaire willing to do anything to score a few more points in this race, even if it means hurting his own party,” he said.
Wolf declined to comment beyond saying the activities were conducted in coordination with ethics guidance. The company, launched in early 2024, markets itself as an AI-driven platform designed to help campaigns analyze donor data and improve fundraising performance.
Financial disclosures show Swalwell holds a stake in the company valued between $200,000 and $500,000. The company has generated roughly $60,000 in revenue from a small number of Democratic campaigns, according to reports.
The situation comes as Swalwell pursues a run for governor of California. A recent legal challenge to his residency was dismissed, allowing him to remain on the ballot.
