Overview
- Rep. Eric Swalwell filed a federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., alleging FHFA Director Bill Pulte violated the Privacy Act and his First Amendment rights by using confidential mortgage data to fuel a criminal referral against him.
- The suit asks a judge to order withdrawal of Pulte’s referral to the Justice Department and seeks unspecified damages, saying Pulte searched Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac databases for records on prominent Democrats.
- Pulte has made referrals involving Sen. Adam Schiff, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Fed Governor Lisa Cook, and industry groups have raised alarms as he consolidated control at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and removed ethics staff.
- Judicial setbacks have mounted for related cases, with a federal judge dismissing charges against James and separate charges against former FBI Director James Comey after ruling the interim U.S. attorney who secured the indictments was unlawfully appointed.
- Justice Department investigators and a Maryland grand jury have subpoenaed Republican activist Christine Bish as they examine whether outside operatives were enlisted in the Schiff probe and whether secret grand jury material was improperly shared.