FEC Rules on Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s Use of Campaign Funds

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Tuesday announced that it has denied a request by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Ca.) to use campaign funds to pay for childcare expenses when he travels to support other Democratic campaigns and at the request of foreign governments and entities.

In a statement, the FEC said that it approved a tally vote on Monday, upholding a previous ruling that campaign funds may only be used to pay for overnight childcare expenses when he travels for his own campaign and his spouse is not available to care for their young children.

“The Commission did not approve a response by the required four affirmative votes as to whether Congressman Swalwell may use campaign funds to pay childcare expenses incurred when he travels for other campaigns or at the request of foreign governments or other entities,” the FEC said (pdf).

Swalwell for Congress counsel Rebecca J. Olson on May 26 made the request, saying the congressman often travels to help other Democrats get elected and at the invitation of foreign governments and entities.

Olsen noted that Swalwell received “many invitations” from foreign governments and entities due to his “well-known status” as a congressman.

“To provide for care for the children, on some occasions the Swalwell family have enlisted the support of a night nanny, when both are unavailable to care for the children,” Olsen told the FEC in a letter (pdf).

She therefore asked if Swalwell’s campaign could pay for a night nanny to care for their three young children, who are “all still in diapers,” when they travel abroad at the invitation of foreign governments and when campaigning for other Democratic candidates.

Olsen said that Swalwell, as both a congressman and candidate for reelection, was a “prolific fundraiser for other democratic candidates,” which meant that he “often is expected to travel and