FBI Confronts Eric Swalwell at Airport, Seizes Electronics in Sexual Misconduct Investigation
Former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell was confronted by FBI agents at San Francisco International Airport over the weekend, with investigators seizing electronic devices as part of a federal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations that helped end his congressional career.
Agents approached Swalwell after he landed at the airport Saturday and took possession of multiple electronic devices belonging to him. The following day, federal investigators searched his Washington, DC, residence as the investigation expanded.
It remains unclear exactly what investigators were seeking from Swalwell’s devices or residence. Authorities have not disclosed whether evidence recovered during the searches will ultimately result in criminal charges.
The federal investigation centers on sexual assault and misconduct allegations made against Swalwell earlier this year. Multiple women accused the longtime California Democrat of inappropriate conduct, including allegations ranging from unsolicited explicit messages to sexual assault. Swalwell has strongly denied the accusations.
One former Swalwell staffer accused him of sexually assaulting her on two occasions. She alleged that one incident occurred in 2019 after a night involving heavy drinking while she was working for the congressman.
The allegations derailed Swalwell’s political career earlier this year. Once considered a leading Democratic contender in California’s 2026 gubernatorial race, he ended his campaign and resigned from Congress in April as the accusations mounted.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and Los Angeles County authorities subsequently opened investigations into allegations involving the former congressman. The newly revealed FBI searches indicate federal investigators are also actively examining the accusations.
Swalwell’s resignation left his California congressional seat vacant and triggered a special election. His departure represented a dramatic downfall for a politician who had served seven terms in Congress and previously sought the Democratic presidential nomination.
The FBI action comes during an especially difficult week for Swalwell. The White House also released declassified FBI records detailing his past relationship with Christine Fang, the suspected Chinese intelligence operative widely known as “Fang Fang.”
Those records revealed that Swalwell acknowledged having sexual relations with Fang on multiple occasions. Separate FBI documents showed investigators concluded that Fang had helped secure illegal conduit campaign contributions benefiting Swalwell, although investigators did not establish that Swalwell knowingly participated in that activity.
The older Fang investigation is separate from the current sexual misconduct probe. Swalwell was not charged in connection with his relationship with Fang, and he has denied wrongdoing surrounding the more recent allegations against him.
The latest development significantly escalates the scrutiny surrounding the former congressman. What began with allegations that forced Swalwell out of the governor’s race and Congress has now developed into an active federal investigation involving the seizure of his electronics and a search of his Washington residence.