Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) warned on CNN that Democrats plan to target private citizens who engage in dealings with the Trump administration if they secure a majority in the House of Representatives during the 2026 midterm elections. The statement followed criticism from Democrats over what they describe as the Department of Justice being used against President Trump’s political adversaries, particularly after former FBI Director James Comey’s indictment.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to these claims, stating, “It is NOT ‘weaponizing the Department of Justice’ to demand accountability for those who weaponized the Department of Justice,” a reference to Democrats’ long-standing efforts to prosecute Trump and his allies. She added, “Nobody knows what that looks like more than President Trump. We are not going to tolerate this gaslighting.”
Swalwell expressed confidence in the Democratic Party’s prospects for 2026, asserting during an interview with CNN host Kate Bolduan that the party intends to gain control of the House despite low approval ratings. “We have every intention of doing that,” he said. “We will bring oversight, accountability. We will subpoena the Department of Justice.”
The congressman also indicated that Democrats would investigate “private actors who have struck deals with the administration,” citing college campuses, entertainment companies, and law firms as potential targets. He suggested the threat was meant to discourage individuals from collaborating with the Trump administration, stating, “Accountability is coming. I hope that deters people from doing more of these deals.”
Swalwell, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on the Judiciary, previously lost his assignment to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in 2023 over allegations involving a suspected Chinese spy.
