As the Eric Swalwell sexual misconduct case unfolds, new allegations have emerged that the California Democrat broke immigration and employment laws by hiring a Brazilian live-in nanny. According to filings obtained by The New York Post, Swalwell and his wife knowingly kept the nanny employed despite lapses in her work authorization.
The nanny, Amanda Barbosa, had entered the United States in 2021 on an au pair visa and began working for the family later that year. However, the couple allegedly misled federal authorities in 2022 when Barbosa's temporary work authorization was nearing expiration.
A complaint filed with the Department of Homeland Security alleged that Barbosa was paid 'under the table' using campaign funds for roughly two years while she was not legally permitted to work. The complaint also claimed that Barbosa continued to serve as a full-time nanny despite restrictions on her working off campus under student visa rules.
Financial records indicate that direct payments to Barbosa stopped, but campaign filings show over $52,000 in childcare expenses reimbursed to Swalwell himself, which the complaint alleges was a workaround to conceal continued payments while Barbosa lacked valid work authorization.
The allegations come as Swalwell's gubernatorial campaign faces turbulence following multiple sexual assault claims, including one from a former staffer who has accused him of rape, an allegation he has strongly denied.
