Billionaire megadonor cuts off Swalwell, leaves Democratic Party, and seeks to claw back over $1 million in donations following sexual misconduct allegations.
| PULSE POINTS: SUGAR DADDY NO MORE. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Billionaire Stephen Cloobeck has publicly ended his support for Congressman Eric Swalwell and indeed the Democratic Party, revealing he has removed him from his Beverly Hills mansion following allegations of sexual misconduct, including violent rape, against the congressman. Cloobeck announced his decision to leave the Democratic Party, citing dissatisfaction with its direction. 📰 DETAIL: Cloobeck, who previously supported Swalwell with over $1 million in donations and allowed him to stay at his mansion, expressed regret over his involvement and is considering legal action to recover some of the funds. He has historically been a major Democrat donor, with FEC filings showing over $4.1 million in federal contributions since 2000 — overwhelmingly to Democratic candidates and committees. His biggest checks include:
💬 KEY QUOTE: “MAD? I AM NO LONGER A DEMOCRAT. I’m now a Libertarian Republican because that’s what a blue dog Democrat used to be.” – Stephen Cloobeck 🎯 IMPACT: The fallout has destroyed Swalwell’s political career, with his withdrawal from the California governor’s race and mounting legal and reputational challenges. Cloobeck’s public denunciation also highlights growing dissatisfaction among some high-profile Democratic donors with the party’s current trajectory. 🕰 FLASHBACK: Just weeks ago, Cloobeck referred to Swalwell as his “little brother” and dismissed earlier rumors of inappropriate behavior. A few months prior, the pair appeared on CNN together, wherein Cloobeck called Swalwell, “a man of great integrity [and] values.” |
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
