Records Show Eric Swalwell Campaign Spent Funds on Hotel Seen in Video
Filings 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, according to a Newsweek review of the disclosures.
According to the disclosures, "Swalwell for Congress" made two payments of $539.70 to the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, a five-star hotel situated on the Las Vegas Strip, 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 compared publicly available images of rooms at the Cosmopolitan with features visible in the footage and found that some elements-including furnishings and layout-appear visually consistent. However, the analysis cannot independently confirm that the video was filmed in the same room paid for by the campaign or identify who occupied the room.
Newsweek contacted Swalwell’s attorney about the campaign's hotel spending disclosed in the FEC filings and the comparison of hotel room images with features visible in the video.
Newsweek has also contacted MGM Resorts International, which operates the hotel and casino, for comment.
What Is in the ‘Hotel Room' Video?
The footage from the hotel circulated on social media as allegations of sexual misconduct emerged against Swalwell, who suspended his campaign for California governor on Sunday and resigned from Congress earlier this week.
The two short clips show an adult male kissing a woman inside what appears to be a hotel room, and the pair lying down together on the bed. At least three other people are in the room with them: one man on the bed, a woman in the background, and the individual filming.
In a forensic report commissioned and prepared in January, and obtained this week by Newsweek, digital forensics expert Hany Farid concluded that the two videos were authentic recordings, and not AI-generated or -manipulated. Farid writes that "biometric analysis" of the man's facial features is “consistent with the conclusion that the appearance of the adult male in the videos matches Representative Eric Swalwell.”
Newsweek has reached out to Swalwell's attorney regarding the footage. Swalwell's Washington, D.C., office is no longer receiving calls on his behalf after his resignation as representative for California's 14th Congressional District.
In a brief phone interview with Newsweek earlier this week, in which he was asked about the hotel video as well as the allegations of sexual misconduct, Swalwell said: "I have no comment on anything-period-and I'm going to hang up now."
Where Was the Hotel Room Footage Taken?
According to the spending disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the agency which oversees campaign financing in the U.S., Swalwell or his staff made thousands of dollars in payments to the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in 2021.
In one filing, two payments totaling $1,079.40 were listed as "travel expenses," with no additional information beyond the address of the hotel and the date of the transaction-July 12.
The forensic report determined that the videos were recorded on July 13, 2021, at 4:46 a.m. and 4:55 a.m. PT, based on metadata extracted from the files. The report also concluded the footage was captured in Las Vegas using an Apple device.
The forensic report included estimated coordinates for the footage, derived from extracted metadata, which Newsweek confirmed closely align with the location of the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, situated on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Still images taken from the footage of Swalwell and the four other individuals also appear consistent with pictures of rooms at the hotel.
One, taken by a past guest and posted to Google Maps, shows a similar room layout, mirror and table as in the two videos. Others also contain other similarities such as blue bed skirting and a dropped section of ceiling.
And a blueprint of a two-bed “City Room” at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas closely resembles aspects of the room that feature in the two videos, including a second door adjacent to the mirror, and a glass panel next to the bed on which Swalwell and his companion appear to be sitting.
What Next for Swalwell?
Since the reports of sexual misconduct ranging from sexual harassment to rape were first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. A fifth woman has come forward accusing Swalwell of sexual assault.
Swalwell has denied all allegations, with his lawyer dismissing these as a "political hit job" against the California Democrat.
The House Ethics Committee announced this week that it has launched an investigation into allegations that Swalwell "may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision."
In addition to the congressional inquiry, two criminal investigations have been launched-one by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and another by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Newsweek's reporters and editors used Martyn, our Al assistant, to help produce this story. Learn more about Martyn.
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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 5:00 AM.