Rep. Eric Swalwell, theDemocratic frontrunner for California governor, insists to voters that he will crack down on utilities to lower skyrocketing energy costs — but he’s quietly pocketed a fortune in campaign cash from the state’s largest provider.
Swalwell raked in more than $113,000 from employees at PG&E through his congressional campaign and PAC, as the much-despised utility companyhiked rates by 101% over a decadeand racked up felony convictions that led some officials to shun donations.
The East Bay congressman has vowed on the campaign trail that he will get tough on utilities as Californians face some of the highest energy costs in the country — along with thehighest housing and fuel costs.
“As governor, I’ll hold utilities accountable and expect those who profit the most to help fix the climate crisis,” Swalwell said
“We must have accountability and requirements for the utility companies to do everything to cap their lines .. we have to make sure utilities are part of making communities whole,” Swalwell said insocial media ads.
PG&E donations to Swawell — from the PG&E Corporation Employees Energy PAC, representing employees of the utility — date back to 2014 and the most recent recorded donation came last year.
Swalwell continued taking money from the PAC even after the firm’s equipment sparked the catastrophic Camp Fire in 2018 that killed 85 people andwiped out Paradise, Calif.
The utility firm pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter after the 17-day blaze scorched more than 150,000 acres, leading the company to file bankruptcy.
The company was convicted of seven felonies in 2016 after a pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif. killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes in a suburban neighborhood.
The convictions led politicians such as Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Nancy Pelosi to shun campaign contributions from the utility, which is considered amonopoly in huge swaths of the state.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
