Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) warned on CNN that Democrats plan to target private citizens who engage in deals with the Trump administration if they secure a House majority in the 2026 midterm elections. The statement followed Democratic claims of a “weaponization” of the Department of Justice against President Trump’s political adversaries, citing former FBI Director James Comey’s indictment as evidence.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed these allegations during a press briefing, stating, “It is NOT ‘weaponizing the Department of Justice’ to demand accountability for those who weaponized the Department of Justice.” She referenced Democrats’ long-standing efforts to prosecute Trump and his allies, adding, “We are not going to tolerate this gaslighting.”

Swalwell expressed confidence in Democratic prospects for 2026, telling CNN host Kate Bolduan, “We have every intention” of gaining House control despite the party’s low approval ratings. He vowed to use congressional oversight to subpoena the Department of Justice and “private actors who have struck deals with the administration.”

The congressman specifically named college campuses, entertainment companies, and law firms as potential targets, framing his remarks as a warning to deter collaborations with the Trump administration. “Accountability is coming,” he said, suggesting the threat could dissuade individuals from pursuing “one-offs” with the president.

Swalwell, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and Judiciary, faces scrutiny over his 2023 removal from the Intelligence Committee amid allegations of an affair with a suspected Chinese spy.