Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., is facing allegations that he used campaign funds to pay a live-in nanny who did not have work authorization, according to two complaints filed with federal agencies.
The complaints, one filed Tuesday with the Department of Labor and another in February with the Department of Homeland Security, accuse Swalwell and his wife, Brittany Swalwell, of misleading authorities to keep their nanny employed. The complaints also allege that Swalwell paid the nanny, Amanda Barbosa, with campaign funds for nearly two years while she lacked proper work authorization, The New York Post reported.
The DHS complaint states Barbosa appears in numerous social media photos with the Swalwell family throughout 2023 and 2024, suggesting she maintained childcare responsibilities despite her lack of legal work status. Barbosa was first hired in 2021 after arriving from Brazil on an au pair visa, according to the report.
Federal Election Commission data shows Swalwell paid Barbosa $3,914 in 2021 and $46,930 in 2022 through campaign funds. Records reviewed by The Post indicate Swalwell began sponsoring Barbosa for a green card in December 2022, as her visa was expiring. Barbosa later enrolled at a community college and was restricted from off-campus work under her student visa, but social media photos depict her interacting with Swalwell’s children at family events.
The complaint alleges that campaign reimbursements totaling $52,262 for “childcare” were a workaround to employ Barbosa while she was not authorized to work. The Department of Labor confirmed the labor certification was approved in 2024. In 2025, Swalwell received an additional $38,905 in campaign funds for childcare, FEC records show.
The allegations come amid separate claims of sexual misconduct against Swalwell, who has denied the accusations and called them false. The congressman posted a video Friday denying the sexual assault allegations and vowed to fight them. He faces increasing scrutiny as he campaigns for California governor.
Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell’s office and federal agencies for comment. The report includes contributions from Madison Colombo.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
