California Rep. Eric Swalwell (D.) may have violated campaign finance rules by using campaign donations to pay his kids' babysitters after Election Day, an ethics watchdog alleges.
Swalwell paid about $17,000 to babysitters from Nov. 14, 2022, through the end of the year, Federal Election Commission disclosures show. One post-election payment to the Swalwells' regular California nanny ran $7,841. A Washington Free Beacon review of average California nanny rates concluded that this payment would have purchased 320 hours, or 13 days of child care. While candidates are allowed to use campaign funds to pay for child care while on the trail, doing so after an election raises ethical questions, according to Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust executive director Kendra Arnold.
"It would be a violation if he used campaign funds to pay for child care after the election if they were not directly caused by campaign activity," said Arnold, whose group is preparing an FEC complaint over Swalwell's spending.
