Billionaire Dem donor Stephen Cloobeck is arrested in LA weeks after turning back on Eric Swalwell

Nypost · May 13, 2026 · 702 words · By Ross O'Keefe

Legal Troubles Political Realignment Reputational Damage

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Billionaire Dem donor Stephen Cloobeck is arrested in LA weeks after turning back on Eric Swalwell Billionaire Stephen Cloobeck was arrested Tuesday for a felony charge of attempting to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness from testifying.

Claims checked 12

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center67%

Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

West Hollywood deputies arrested Cloobeck after he turned himself in following a warrant issued for his arrest, The California Post can confirm.

Common ground

He was released on a $300,000 bond at 1:17 p.m.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Smears: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Legal Troubles story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that She is currently not allowed to leave California, sporting an ankle monitor?
How does this story connect Legal Troubles with Political Realignment over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/13/us-news/stephen-cloobeck-is-arrested-in-la-weeks-a…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 60% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Smears 70% confidence

Using damaging allegations to undermine a person's reputation.

Why it matters: Recognizing smears helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified By Reference 4

check_circle Corroborated 3

info Single Source 2

schedule Pending 2

help Insufficient Evidence 1

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Claim 1: “She is currently not allowed to leave California, sporting an ankle monitor.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent sources (Hindustan Times, ABC7 Los Angeles, and WestsideToday) confirm Adva Lavie is on an ankle monitor and restricted in her movements.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Lavie is scheduled to be arraigned on April 6 in Van Nuys. She has been released from custody on an ankle monitor and is ordered to stay away from the named victims.
https://abc7.com/post/adva-lavie-la-model-accused-meeting-me…

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web search NEUTRAL — Adva Lavie, a Los Angeles social media influencer and OnlyFans model accused of using dating apps to infiltrate and burglarize the homes of victims she met online, was ordered Monday to stand trial on…
https://westsidetoday.com/2026/03/25/l-a-influencer-adva-lav…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Lavie is presently under an ankle monitor and is not in custody, having been instructed to maintain distance from the identified victims. She is set to be arraigned on April 6 at the Van Nuys Courthou…
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/who-is-adv…

verified

Claim 2: “West Hollywood deputies arrested Cloobeck after he turned himself in following a warrant issued for his arrest”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provided discusses Cloobeck's relationship with Eric Swalwell and his gubernatorial race, but does not mention an arrest warrant or him turning himself in to West Hollywood deputies.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — California Proposition 50, officially known as the Election Rigging Response Act, is an amendment to the constitution of the U.S. state of California, which was passed by voters in a special election …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_California_Proposition_50

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of notable non-political figures and organizations that endorsed the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kamala_Harris_2024_pre…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This list includes a number of television shows that are notable for negative critical reception.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_shows_notab…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 3: “Billionaire Stephen Cloobeck was arrested Tuesday for a felony charge of attempting to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness from testifying.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of a general Wikipedia bio of Cloobeck and unrelated articles about Trump and witness tampering. There is no evidence in the provided text confirming his arrest for witness tampering.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Stephen J. Cloobeck is an American businessman and the founder, former chairman, and chief executive officer of the timeshare company Diamond Resorts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Cloobeck

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Democrats have warned they could add witness tampering as another article of impeachment against the president.According to Axios, Democrats aren’t the only ones upset about Trump’s belief that he has…
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/11/donald-trump-witness…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Stephen J. Cloobeck is a self-made entrepreneur with more than 40 years’ experience across every aspect of hospitality design, development, finance and operations.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgRsSiIwlGhGRSUGdh9HAcQ

schedule

Claim 4: “If convicted on all counts, Lavie faces up to 11 years, eight months in state prison.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “He announced last month he would marry Penthouse Pet Adva Lavie, 28”

CORROBORATED

Two separate web search results (California Post and Amed Post) mention Cloobeck's intention to marry Adva Lavie.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Stephen J. Cloobeck is an American businessman and the founder, former chairman, and chief executive officer of the timeshare company Diamond Resorts.In December 2022, Cloobeck announced he had handed…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Cloobeck

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Courtesy of Stephen Cloobeck. Adva Lavie, also known as Mia Ventura, in a red bikini. 9. Penthouse Pet Adva Lavie Jam Press. Yet Cloobeck told the California Post he still wants to marry her, saying: …
https://nypost.com/2026/04/28/us-news/stephen-cloobecks-wedd…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Adva Lavie stood in front of Judge Diego Edber as he explained the rules of her electronic monitoring, including not being.Courtesy of Stephen Cloobeck. The model was also tight lipped about Cloobeck’…
https://amedpost.com/stephen-cloobeck-and-penthouse-pet-adva…

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Claim 6: “The billionaire, who ran for governor briefly last year before dropping out to support Swalwell, has now said he’s a libertarian Republican.”

CORROBORATED

Wikipedia confirms he briefly ran for governor of California in 2025, and a web search result from the California Post explicitly states he now considers himself a libertarian.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Stephen J. Cloobeck is an American businessman and the founder, former chairman, and chief executive officer of the timeshare company Diamond Resorts. In 2025 he briefly ran a campaign for governor of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Cloobeck

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Stephen J. Cloobeck, a hospitality businessman and former CEO of Diamond Resorts, joined Inside California Politics co-host Nikki Laurenzo for a wide-ranging...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT-qcsrd3YM

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Stephen Cloobeck now considers himself to be a libertarian. David Buchan for California Post. Swalwell, who had been the Democratic frontrunner in the Golden State gubernatorial race, has been accused…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/14/us-news/millionaire-who-shelte…

verified

Claim 7: “Cloobek, the former CEO of Diamond Resorts International”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Multiple sources, including Wikipedia and a cross-reference from the NY Post, explicitly state that Stephen Cloobeck is the founder and former CEO of Diamond Resorts.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Undercover Boss is an American reality television series, based on the British series of the same name and produced by Studio Lambert in both countries. Each episode depicts a person who has an upper-…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Undercover_Boss_(Ameri…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 California gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of California, with the statewide top-two primary election scheduled for June 2, 2026. Incumbent Demo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_California_gubernatorial_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Diamond Resorts is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilton Grand Vacations. Diamond Resorts was an independent timeshare and vacation ownership company until it was purchased by HGV in 2021. Following the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Resorts

+ 4 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 8: “They mutually filed for divorce in March.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 9: “He was released on a $300,000 bond at 1:17 p.m. Tuesday after being held there since around 11 a.m. that day.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provided for this claim consists of general Wikipedia entries for the name 'Stephen' and unrelated political events. There is no mention of a $300,000 bond or a Tuesday release.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2018 United States Senate election in Nevada took place November 6, 2018, to elect one of two U.S. senators from Nevada. Incumbent Republican senator Dean Heller lost re-election to a second full …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_United_States_Senate_elec…

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+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 10: “Lavie has been married before to porn star Edan Ives”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim is only supported by a single cross-reference from the NY Post; no other independent sources were provided to corroborate this specific marriage.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — Lavie has been married before to porn star Edan Ives
https://nypost.com/2026/04/28/us-news/stephen-cloobecks-wedd…

help

Claim 11: “She appeared in court recently after pleading not guilty to six felony charges for allegedly preying on old men through dating apps.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this specific claim in the gathered results.

verified

Claim 12: “If convicted of the felony charge, Cloobeck faces up to four years in prison.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provides general definitions of 'felony' and unrelated political information, but does not confirm a specific charge against Cloobeck or a four-year prison sentence.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Stephen J. Cloobeck (born October 26, 1961) is an American businessman and the founder, former chairman, and chief executive officer of the timeshare company Diamond Resorts. In 2025 he briefly ran a …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Cloobeck

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.