Core Points - Rep. Eric Swalwell filed a lawsuit against Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, alleging abuse of authority and unlawful conduct regarding mortgage fraud allegations [1][2] - The lawsuit claims that Pulte improperly accessed and leaked Swalwell's private mortgage records, violating the Privacy Act of 1974 and the First Amendment [2][4] - Swalwell's legal team argues that Pulte's referral to the Justice Department was false and part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to target political opponents [3][5][6] Summary by Sections Allegations and Legal Claims - Swalwell's lawsuit seeks to declare Pulte's actions unlawful, withdraw the criminal referral, and award damages for privacy violations [1] - The suit emphasizes that Pulte's referral was "patently false," as Swalwell had affirmed his residency status in an affidavit [3] Timing and Impact - The lawsuit highlights the timing of the leak, which coincided with Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign announcement, suggesting a politically motivated attack [4] - The rapid dissemination of the referral letter to the media is noted as increasing security risks for Swalwell's family [4] Broader Context - The filing positions Pulte's actions as part of a systematic approach by the Trump administration to utilize federal agencies against critics [5] - The lawsuit points out that no similar criminal referrals have been made against Trump allies, indicating a potential bias in the application of such referrals [9] Pulte's Defense - Pulte defended the agency's actions, claiming that the referrals were not politically motivated and that such referrals are routine [8] - He declined to disclose the sources of information leading to the referrals, maintaining confidentiality [8]