Billionaire Democratic donor Stephen Cloobeck, who poured over $1 million into Representative Eric Swalwell’s failed California gubernatorial campaign, was arrested Tuesday in Los Angeles on felony charges of attempting to prevent or dissuade a witness from testifying.
Major Backer Faces Serious Charges
West Hollywood deputies arrested Cloobeck after he turned himself in following the issuance of an arrest warrant. The casino and timeshare mogul was released on $300,000 bond after being held for approximately two hours. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison. A spokesman for Cloobeck denied the allegations, stating the charges are false and promising to fight them in court. The specific circumstances surrounding the witness tampering charges remain unclear, and authorities have not disclosed where the warrant originated.
From Little Brother to Legal Troubles
The arrest comes just weeks after Cloobeck dramatically severed ties with Swalwell, evicting him from his $26 million Beverly Hills mansion and demanding repayment of all donated funds. Cloobeck had previously referred to Swalwell as his little brother and provided extensive support beyond financial contributions. He spent $31,000 flying Swalwell to Nice, France, according to congressional gift reports. The fallout followed explosive allegations that Swalwell sexually assaulted multiple women, including claims from a former staffer who alleged the congressman raped her while she was too intoxicated to consent.
Mansion Used As Campaign Headquarters
Swalwell visited the lavish 9,700-square-foot Roxbury Drive estate on at least 10 occasions since September, using it as a backdrop for social media videos and television interviews. Congressional records reveal Swalwell missed House floor votes on at least three days when he posted content from the mansion. In 2025, Swalwell missed more votes than any other active member of Congress, surpassing even the late Representative Raúl Grijalva, who died in March. Cloobeck had contributed $1 million to a committee supporting Swalwell’s gubernatorial bid and provided resources from his own short-lived 2025 governor campaign.
What This Means
The witness tampering charges against Cloobeck add another layer of legal complexity to an already troubled political relationship. The timing of the arrest raises questions about whether the charges relate to the allegations against Swalwell or involve separate matters entirely. As this case develops, both Cloobeck’s legal defense and any potential connection to the Swalwell scandal will likely face intense scrutiny from investigators and the public.