Federal investigators have intensified their scrutiny of former Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell after agents seized electronic devices from him at San Francisco International Airport and later searched his home in Washington, D.C. The actions were reportedly carried out as part of an ongoing federal investigation connected to allegations of sexual assault and other misconduct. The developments mark another major escalation in a controversy that has already brought a dramatic end to Swalwell’s congressional career and gubernatorial ambitions.
According to people familiar with the investigation, federal agents approached Swalwell at the San Francisco airport on Saturday and served him with a search warrant before taking possession of electronic devices. The following day, investigators executed another search warrant at his Washington residence. Authorities have not publicly detailed what evidence they were seeking, what devices or materials may have been collected from the home, or whether investigators expect additional searches to follow.
The FBI and Justice Department have not publicly commented in detail on the operation or the broader investigation. Swalwell and his representatives have also faced renewed questions following reports about the searches. The former congressman has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, maintaining that the accusations against him are false. At this stage, the investigation remains ongoing, and the reported searches do not by themselves amount to criminal charges.
The federal investigation comes after a series of allegations that emerged earlier this year and rapidly transformed the political future of the California Democrat. Reports detailing accusations from several women created mounting pressure on Swalwell, who had been a nationally recognized Democratic figure and an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump. The controversy eventually led him to withdraw from California’s race for governor and resign from Congress in April.
Among the allegations were claims of sexual assault as well as accusations involving inappropriate or unsolicited explicit communications. Several women have publicly described alleged encounters involving Swalwell, while others have spoken with investigators about their experiences. Three women who have publicly discussed allegations of misconduct have also said they were contacted by or spoke with the FBI as the federal investigation expanded beyond earlier state and local inquiries.
Before the latest federal action, other law enforcement agencies had already begun examining some of the accusations. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department opened criminal investigations following reports about alleged sexual assault and misconduct. The addition of a federal investigation brought another layer of scrutiny and raised the stakes for Swalwell as authorities examined claims originating from different locations and involving multiple women.
Swalwell’s political decline unfolded with remarkable speed. Only months earlier, he had been a sitting member of Congress and a prominent Democratic voice with national visibility. He had previously sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2019 and remained a frequent participant in major political debates. His criticism of Trump made him one of the better-known Democratic lawmakers in Washington and helped establish him as a recognizable figure far beyond his California district.
His decision to enter California’s gubernatorial race initially added another high-profile name to an already competitive political contest. Swalwell had presented himself as a forceful candidate capable of attracting national attention while appealing to Democratic voters looking for an aggressive political fighter. However, the allegations that later surfaced dramatically altered the direction of his campaign and ultimately made his continued participation in the race politically impossible.
As pressure increased, Swalwell ended his campaign for governor and later resigned from Congress. He acknowledged making what he described as mistakes in judgment but continued to reject the most serious accusations against him. His departure from Congress also effectively ended the possibility of a House ethics investigation continuing against him, since the committee’s authority is focused on current members of the House.
The FBI’s reported decision to seize electronic devices and search Swalwell’s residence suggests investigators are now seeking information that could potentially help them evaluate the competing claims surrounding the allegations. Electronic devices can contain communications, photographs, location information and other digital records that may be relevant to an investigation. However, authorities have not disclosed what they were specifically searching for or whether anything seized during the operation has been determined to be significant.
The timing of the searches also comes during a period of renewed attention surrounding Swalwell’s past. Earlier in the week, previously classified material connected to an older FBI investigation involving his contacts with Christine Fang, a woman suspected by U.S. authorities of acting on behalf of Chinese intelligence interests, was made public. Swalwell had long denied any wrongdoing related to that matter and was never charged in connection with the earlier investigation.
The renewed release of information concerning Fang added another political dimension to a period already dominated by the sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell and his supporters had previously argued that efforts to revisit the older investigation were politically motivated and designed to damage him. The former congressman had been one of Trump’s most persistent Democratic critics, and the overlap between the renewed attention on his past and the current criminal investigations has fueled debate about politics and law enforcement.
Still, the federal investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations is separate from the earlier counterintelligence matter. The latest searches were reportedly connected specifically to accusations involving sexual assault and misconduct. Investigators appear to be examining evidence connected to those claims, while separate agencies continue to evaluate allegations that had already prompted investigations at the state and local levels.
For Swalwell, the consequences of the controversy have already been severe regardless of the ultimate outcome of the federal investigation. His resignation ended a congressional career that had made him one of the most visible Democrats from California, while his withdrawal from the governor’s race removed him from a contest in which he had once been viewed as a serious contender. The latest FBI action now places his personal and political future under even greater uncertainty.
The investigation also represents a significant development for the women who have publicly made allegations against him. Their claims, which initially emerged through media reporting and public statements, are now being examined by multiple law enforcement agencies. Whether those investigations eventually result in charges will depend on the evidence authorities are able to collect and the conclusions prosecutors reach after reviewing the available information.
For now, major questions remain unanswered. Authorities have not explained exactly what they found during the searches, whether the electronic devices contained information relevant to the allegations or whether additional witnesses or evidence will emerge. Swalwell has not been arrested in connection with the reported FBI operation and continues to deny the accusations made against him.
The case remains active, and the search of his home and seizure of his devices could represent only one stage in a longer investigation. As federal authorities continue their work, Swalwell faces the possibility of further scrutiny while attempting to defend himself against allegations that have already reshaped his career. The outcome will depend on what investigators uncover and whether prosecutors ultimately believe the evidence supports criminal charges.
