Billionaire Dem Donor Who Turned on the Party After Swalwell Allegations Gets Arrested

The billionaire timeshare kingpin who suddenly ditched former Rep. Eric Swalwell and booted him from his California mansion over sexual misconduct allegations was arrested Tuesday. 

Stephen Cloobeck, the founder of Diamond Resorts International, turned himself in to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department in West Hollywood. He faces a felony charge of attempting to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness from testifying, the California Post reported.

Details on exactly what went down remain fuzzy. He posted $300,000 bail and walked out, per jail records. Fox News Digital asked the sheriff's department and Cloobeck himself for comment. 

"These charges are false, and we look forward to our day in court," a spokesperson for Cloobeck told the newspaper.

Cloobeck, a former gubernatorial candidate, had been backing Swalwell's run for California governor until the sexual assault claims surfaced. That was enough for him to bail on his old pal and the entire Democratic Party.

"I am no longer supporting Eric. F---ing tell everyone I’m a libertarian. F--- you, Democratic Party. I’m a libertarian now," Cloobeck told the Post at the time.

"I am now a Republican," he added to Fox 11 LA.

Swalwell has denied the claims against him in a video filmed inside Cloobeck's home. At the time, Cloobeck, who briefly ran for governor before dropping out and endorsing his former friend, said he kicked Swalwell out of his Beverly Hills mansion, stating that Swalwell "busted the trust" between them.

"I am no longer associated with a man that takes advantage of women," Cloobeck told reporters. "I support women’s rights."

Even in the clown world of California politics, this one has some extra layers of delicious irony. A big-money Dem donor finally sees the light, flips the bird to the party, and now finds himself in legal hot water. Hollywood could not script this stuff any better.

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Billionaire pal kicks Swalwell out of mansion and wants his donations back after rape allegations

Stephen Cloobeck, that billionaire timeshare king and former California governor wannabe, just did what every sane person should have done months ago. He booted disgraced Democratic Rep. Eric 'Gasman' Swalwell out of his mansion and now wants his million dollars in campaign donations returned after a gaggle of women came forward accusing the congressman of sexual assault and misconduct.

Cloobeck used to call Swalwell his “little brother” in that March POLITICO interview. He even scoffed when the New York Post asked him about the lawmaker’s rumored creepy behavior with female staffers. But on Sunday the timeshare mogul sang a very different tune. He is cutting ties with Swalwell and the entire Democratic Party faster than you can say “hypocrite.”

“I am no longer supporting Eric,” the Diamond Resorts founder told the outlet. “F*cking tell everyone I’m a libertarian. F*ck you, Democrat Party. I’m a libertarian now.”

Classic. 

A complete 180 after Swalwell posted a video, reportedly filmed inside Cloobeck’s swanky Beverly Hills home, trying to defend himself against those rape and sexual harassment claims from former staffers and other women in Democrat politics.

Since four women went public in that CNN piece, more than fifty former Swalwell staffers have now demanded his resignation. On top of that, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced they are investigating because one of the alleged incidents happened in New York after Swalwell spoke at a gala there.

Even House Democrat leadership turned on him. House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar, and House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark put out a joint statement calling for Swalwell to drop his gubernatorial bid.

“Following the incredibly disturbing sexual assault accusations against Congressman Eric Swalwell, we call for a swift investigation into these incidents and for the Congressman to immediately end his campaign to be California’s next Governor,” the lawmakers wrote.

Swalwell officially suspended his campaign on Sunday. He claimed he is “deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past” while still insisting the allegations are “false.”“I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made, but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” he said in a statement posted to social media.

Here is the kicker. Cloobeck had launched his own short-lived run for California governor, then dropped out and endorsed Swalwell. According to the New York Post he dumped more than a million dollars into the guy’s campaign and let him crash at his 9,700-square-foot mansion whenever he wanted.

“I have a lot of people who stay at my house,” Cloobeck told the outlet. “I built a gorgeous place, my dream home, I relish it, and I’m a very generous man. I’m very thoughtful and I’m very kind.” 

Generous and kind until the rape allegations dropped. Then suddenly Swalwell is no longer welcome. Cloobeck confirmed the congressman is out of the house but said he would have to talk to his lawyer about clawing back that donation money.

The billionaire, who admitted he had been a Democrat for about four decades, made it crystal clear he is finished with the party.

“I’m going to change my godd*mn party affiliation, because I cannot stand this Democratic Party at all,” he told the Post. “I am done. Finito.”

Welcome to sanity, sir.

When asked if he thought Swalwell had been honest with him, Cloobeck replied, “I’m gonna have to investigate that. I don’t know the answer to that.”

Oh, now he needs to investigate? After funding the guy, housing the guy, and calling him “little brother”? Give me a break. This is what happens when the mask slips on the Democrat Party’s favorite protected class. One set of rules for thee, another for the powerful donors who finally wake up. 

Welcome to libertarianism, Mr. Cloobeck. Better late than never.

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