WASHINGTON (FNN) – A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell accuses Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte of abusing his authority to improperly access and weaponize confidential mortgage data belonging to Swalwell and other political critics of President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit comes less than two weeks after Pulte referred the California Democrat to the Justice Department for possible mortgage-fraud prosecution — an investigation Swalwell says is politically motivated and retaliatory. Swalwell is seeking a court order requiring Pulte to withdraw the referral, along with unspecified monetary damages, alleging violations of federal protections and his First Amendment rights.

Pulte did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Lawsuit Claims Retaliation Against Trump Critics

Swalwell, currently running for governor of California, previously served as a House impeachment manager during Trump’s 2021 impeachment trial. His filing argues that Pulte has acted as a central figure in what Swalwell describes as “a campaign of retribution” against political opponents of the president.

“Those efforts have resulted in the Department of Justice conducting a series of high-profile criminal investigations and prosecutions nakedly targeting some of the President’s most outspoken critics,” the lawsuit states.

The Nov. 13 referral from Pulte to the Justice Department alleged that Swalwell intentionally misrepresented his Washington, D.C., residence status to secure favorable mortgage terms. Swalwell denies this, saying his sworn affidavit clarified that the property would serve as his wife’s primary residence, not his own.

Mortgage Investigation Scandal Widens

Internal investigations have already begun within the FHFA regarding whether Pulte and his associates improperly accessed private mortgage files. Pulte, who installed himself as chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has drawn alarm from industry observers by purging watchdog officials and leadership from the agencies.

Swalwell’s suit calls Pulte’s actions “unprecedented and unlawful,” particularly the practice of obtaining confidential mortgage records and using them to push DOJ criminal referrals.

The Justice Department previously named Ed Martin as a special prosecutor overseeing mortgage-fraud inquiries into prominent Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. On Monday, a federal judge dismissed the separate criminal cases against James and former FBI Director James Comey, ruling that the prosecutor responsible for filing charges had been improperly appointed.

WASHINGTON (FNN) — A longtime FBI employee who was nearing completion of special agent training was dismissed last month for displaying a Pride flag at his workspace, according to a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday.

David Maltinsky, who worked for the FBI for 16 years, had completed 16 of 19 weeks of agent training at Quantico when he said he was handed a termination letter from FBI Director Kash Patel and told he was being dismissed for the “inappropriate display of political signage.” The suit asserts that the flag, previously flown outside the Los Angeles field office during Pride Month in 2021, was displayed inside with prior approval from supervisors.

Background and Training Dismissal

Maltinsky previously served as an intelligence specialist in the Los Angeles field office and was pursuing a long-held goal of becoming a special agent. The Progress Pride flag — which includes rainbow stripes and additional colors to represent LGBTQ+ individuals and communities of color — had been gifted to him after being taken down from its official display at the field office.

The lawsuit states that Maltinsky was a supporter of diversity efforts within the bureau. These efforts were halted under a January executive order from President Donald Trump that eliminated federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Legal Claims and Government Response

The suit names Patel, the FBI, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Justice Department as defendants. It seeks Maltinsky’s reinstatement, a declaration that his dismissal violated First Amendment rights to free speech and Fifth Amendment guarantees of equal protection.

The FBI and Justice Department declined to comment on pending litigation.

Maltinsky’s attorney, Christopher M. Mattei, called the firing unconstitutional, saying, “This case is about far more than one man’s career — it’s about whether the government can punish Americans simply for saying who they are.”

Broader Personnel Disputes at the Bureau

The filing comes amid other lawsuits brought by FBI officials alleging improper personnel actions taken in President Trump’s second term. In September, three former senior FBI officials claimed they were dismissed as part of a “campaign of retribution” allegedly driven by political pressure.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (FNN) — President Donald Trump said Thursday he wants to “permanently pause migration” to the United States from poorer countries and intends to pursue the removal of immigrants by revoking their legal status. In an extended social media post, Trump blamed immigration for issues ranging from crime to housing shortages and called for what he termed “REVERSE MIGRATION.”

Trump’s Statement and Policy Positioning

Trump’s comments followed the fatal shooting Wednesday of two National Guard members deployed in Washington, D.C. One soldier died and the other remains in critical condition. A 29-year-old Afghan national, who previously aided U.S. military operations during the Afghanistan conflict and was resettled under a special assistance program, is now facing charges.

Trump’s message is one of his strongest statements on immigration since returning to the presidency in January. He said millions of foreign-born residents contribute significantly to what he described as “social dysfunction,” and asserted—without evidence—that “most” are on public assistance or connected to criminal activity.

Data and Research on Immigration and Crime

Approximately 50 million foreign-born residents live in the United States, according to government data. Numerous academic studies have consistently shown that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes compared to U.S.-born citizens. Research published last year in the Annual Review of Criminology found no link between higher concentrations of immigrants and increased crime at either the individual or community levels.
A 2023 economic analysis also found immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than native-born Americans — a trend that has held for more than a century.

National Security, Screening, and Political Response

Trump said he intends to reverse immigration approvals granted during President Joe Biden’s administration, restrict benefits for non-citizens, and deport individuals he views as “non-compatible with Western Civilization.” The White House characterized Trump’s social media remarks as one of his most consequential policy messages.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow said the agency would expand screening measures for immigrants from 19 “high-risk” countries but did not specify them. Earlier this year, the administration suspended travel from 12 nations and imposed limitations on seven more, citing security concerns.

Trump was asked Thursday whether he blamed the D.C. shootings on all Afghan immigrants.

“No,” he said, “but we’ve had a lot of problems with Afghans.”