Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings reveal that Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, has paid more than $360,000 to a Haitian American staffer under a variety of shifting designations, prompting questions about the purpose and classification of the payments.
According to Fox News, records from Swalwell for Congress and his Remedy PAC show over 75 payments to Darly Meyer dating back to 2021.
The payments were inconsistently categorized as travel expenses, car service, “security services,” salary, “personal travel reimbursement,” “event flowers reimbursement” and postage.
Individual payments ranged from $53 to over $12,000. Meyer reportedly received more than $120,000 in 2024 and is projected to surpass that figure in 2025.
Meyer owns CYD Global Car Service, a North Hollywood-based limousine and corporate shuttle service specializing in luxury transportation.
He also co-administers a Facebook group called “CaliHaitians – Haitians in Az, Ca, Nv, Hi, Or, Wa,” which describes itself as a selective progressive network offering professional support to strengthen the Haitian-American community.
Among the group’s administrators is Guerline Jozef, founder of Haitian Bridge Alliance, an organization advocating against Trump-era border policies and assisting illegal immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Swalwell did not explain why payment classifications changed over time.
He told Fox News Digital, “Darly protects me and my family,” and later posted on X, “Fox News Digital emailed and asked why I’ve spent $350,000 on security… Maybe I should send [the reporter] the bill?”
Trending Politics notes that California records indicate that Meyer does not hold a security license, and he declined to comment when contacted.
Hans von Spakovsky, former FEC commissioner and Heritage Foundation legal fellow, described the filings as “bizarre inconsistencies” that should attract the FEC’s auditing attention.
He suggested that investigators determine whether the payments were legitimate or misclassified, noting that proper classification is essential under federal campaign finance rules.
Swalwell’s campaign history shows a pattern of high-profile spending. Filings reveal payments for luxury car services, high-end hotels, exclusive travel and other premium expenditures.
In 2023, his campaign spent nearly $17,000 on Just Dreaming Yacht Charters in San Francisco and reported hotel stays at Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, 1 Hotel San Francisco, Austin Proper Hotel and the Times Square Edition.
Late 2023 travel spending alone approached $90,000, with another $60,000 recorded over six weeks in 2022, including accommodations at the five-star Hotel La Maison Champs-Elysées in Paris.
Swalwell has represented California’s 15th Congressional District since 2013.
Over his 12-year tenure, he has served on the House Intelligence Committee and the House Judiciary Committee, positioning himself as a key voice on national security, government oversight and ethics.
His frequent public commentary on Trump and other Republican figures has made him one of the most recognized Democratic voices in Congress.
Experts stress that proper accounting of campaign expenditures is required by law.
Misclassification or unexplained spending can result in audits, fines or increased oversight.
For a lawmaker frequently emphasizing transparency, these irregularities could draw additional scrutiny from watchdogs and political rivals alike.
The ongoing questions surrounding Swalwell’s payments highlight the broader issue of accountability in political finance.
Public officials’ spending practices are increasingly examined in today’s highly polarized political environment and irregularities—even if unintentional—can carry significant legal, financial, and reputational consequences for elected officials.
