- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Swalwell Campaign Paid for Las Vegas Hotel Hours Before Controversial Video
FEC filings show Swalwell's campaign covered hotel costs just before footage emerged of him in a compromising situation.
Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:00am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The hotel room at the center of the Swalwell controversy evokes a sense of quiet unease and the lingering questions surrounding the former congressman's conduct.Las Vegas TodayFilings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) show that former Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell's campaign paid about $1,100 to a Las Vegas hotel hours before a widely circulated video, later confirmed as authentic, was recorded. The video shows Swalwell in a hotel room kissing a woman on a bed, with several other people present. Newsweek's analysis found visual similarities between the hotel room in the video and rooms at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where Swalwell's campaign made the payments.
Why it matters
The hotel payments and video footage have raised questions about Swalwell's conduct and the use of campaign funds. The revelations come as Swalwell faces multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, leading to investigations by the House Ethics Committee, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
The details
According to the FEC disclosures, 'Swalwell for Congress' made two payments of $539.70 to the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on July 12, 2021. A forensic report obtained by Newsweek determined the video was recorded in the early morning hours of July 13, 2021, and shows Swalwell in a hotel room kissing a woman on a bed. Newsweek's analysis found that some elements of the hotel room, including furnishings and layout, appear visually consistent with publicly available images of rooms at the Cosmopolitan.
- On July 12, 2021, Swalwell's campaign made two payments totaling $1,079.40 to the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
- The video footage was recorded on July 13, 2021, at 4:46 a.m. and 4:55 a.m. PT.
The players
Eric Swalwell
A former Democratic Representative from California's 14th Congressional District who suspended his campaign for California governor and resigned from Congress earlier this week amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
A five-star hotel situated on the Las Vegas Strip, where Swalwell's campaign made payments hours before the controversial video was recorded.
What they’re saying
“I have no comment on anything—period—and I'm going to hang up now.”
— Eric Swalwell
What’s next
The House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into allegations that Swalwell 'may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision.' In addition, two criminal investigations have been launched - one by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and another by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
The takeaway
The hotel payments and video footage have raised serious questions about Swalwell's conduct and the use of campaign funds. These revelations, combined with the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, have led to several investigations that will likely determine Swalwell's political future.
