Bay Area congressman Eric Swalwell is facing a fresh round of scrutiny, with new complaints alleging his campaign paid a Brazilian live-in nanny after her work authorization lapsed and routed some of that money through campaign accounts. The accusations surface as Swalwell works to hold his position in a crowded California governor’s primary field.
What the complaints allege
Filmmaker Joel Gilbert says he has filed complaints with federal agencies alleging that Amanda Barbosa, who he says arrived in the United States as an au pair in January 2021, remained in the Swalwell home as a live-in childcare worker after a J‑1 au pair visa expired in December 2022. The filings posted online claim the Swalwells misled officials to keep Barbosa working and that campaign disbursements were used to compensate her while she lacked authorization, according to the New York Post.
Campaign filings show repeated payments
Reviews of Federal Election Commission records show multiple childcare-related payments tied to Swalwell’s campaign over several years. A FOX News Digital review found the campaign paid a childcare provider named Amanda Barbosa more than $100,000 from 2021 through 2025, and that the committee reimbursed over $200,000 in childcare expenses overall. Gilbert’s complaint highlights those figures alongside social‑media images and ledger entries.
Legal questions on immigration and campaign law
The complaints lodged with the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Election Commission allege possible immigration violations for continuing to employ a person without work authorization and possible improper personal use of campaign funds. Those are allegations; Gilbert’s filings and the public FEC entries are the materials prompting the requests for agency review, per the complaint posted on SwalwellIsDisqualified.com. The submissions also cite Department of Labor paperwork connected to an attempt at permanent labor certification, which Gilbert says produced official records in 2024.
Political context for a June primary
The accusations arrive as Swalwell remains a leading contender in the California governor’s open primary, scheduled for June 2, 2026, and as he is already contending with separate sexual‑assault allegations that have drawn widespread coverage. For broader reporting on those allegations and the campaign fallout, see coverage by the Associated Press.
It was not immediately clear whether Swalwell’s campaign had publicly responded to the new immigration and campaign‑finance complaints; news outlets report they have reached out for comment to the congressman’s team and to the parties named in the filings. Gilbert’s complaints and supporting exhibits remain posted online for agency review, and any determinations would come from DHS, the FEC or the Department of Labor rather than from the initial filings themselves.
.jpg){kind=link}