Former Representative Eric Swalwell paid more than $360,000 to attorney Sara Azari from his congressional and gubernatorial campaign accounts shortly after leaving office and ending his run for governor.
A $50,000 payment to Azari for "Legal and Accounting Services" was recorded on April 24, eleven days after Swalwell resigned from Congress.
California state records show three additional payments from his gubernatorial campaign to Azari the following month, including a $250,000 disbursement in early May labeled "campaign legal compliance."
The payments followed detailed allegations from multiple women who accused Swalwell of pursuing intoxicated women, pressuring employees into intimate situations, and soliciting explicit images.
The allegations prompted senior Democrats to withdraw support and contributed to the collapse of his gubernatorial bid and his departure from Congress.
Azari, who operates law offices in Los Angeles and New York, was among the few public figures to defend Swalwell after his resignation.
In a statement, Azari characterized the allegations as a coordinated effort to damage Swalwell's reputation and praised him for stepping down to address the claims.
Swalwell apologized for past "mistakes in judgment" while denying the allegations, stating he would fight what he called false accusations.
Swalwell currently faces criminal investigations in New York and Los Angeles, as well as a Justice Department inquiry related to the misconduct claims.
Azari has not responded to inquiries regarding the purpose or scope of the legal services covered by the campaign payments.
