FBI raids Eric Swalwell’s property, seizes devices at airport in sexual misconduct investigation
Federal agents seized electronic devices from disgraced former California Rep. Eric Swalwell after confronting him at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, as part of a federal criminal investigation stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct, according to sources familiar with the probe. Agents presented Swalwell with a search warrant as he arrived in California and […]
Federal agents seized electronic devices from disgraced former California Rep. Eric Swalwell after confronting him at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, as part of a federal criminal investigation stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct, according to sources familiar with the probe.
Agents presented Swalwell with a search warrant as he arrived in California and took his cellphone and other electronic devices, according to the Daily Mail, which first reported the story. Swalwell was cooperative with investigators, the outlet said, citing sources on the ground.
” data-large-file=”https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fbi-raids-eric-swalwells-property-seizes-devices-at-airport-in-sexual-misconduct-investigation.jpg” src=”https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fbi-raids-eric-swalwells-property-seizes-devices-at-airport-in-sexual-misconduct-investigation.jpg” alt=”Then-Rep. Eric Swalwell talks with reporters after holding a town hall meeting in Sacramento, California, April 7, 2026.” class=”wp-image-4691074″ srcset=”https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fbi-raids-eric-swalwells-property-seizes-devices-at-airport-in-sexual-misconduct-investigation.webp 1024w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fbi-raids-eric-swalwells-property-seizes-devices-at-airport-in-sexual-misconduct-investigation.webp?resize=300,200 300w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fbi-raids-eric-swalwells-property-seizes-devices-at-airport-in-sexual-misconduct-investigation.webp?resize=768,512 768w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fbi-raids-eric-swalwells-property-seizes-devices-at-airport-in-sexual-misconduct-investigation.webp?resize=150,100 150w, https://conservativemodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/fbi-raids-eric-swalwells-property-seizes-devices-at-airport-in-sexual-misconduct-investigation.webp?resize=696,464 696w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>FILE – Former California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell talks with reporters after holding a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
The investigation continued Sunday, when federal agents executed additional court-approved search warrants at Swalwell’s Washington, D.C., residence and seized other potential evidence, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Swalwell, 45, had begun Saturday in Washington, where he has a home with his wife, Brittany Watts, and their three children, before traveling to California. Agents were waiting for him when he arrived at the airport.
Neither Swalwell nor Watts was at the Washington residence when agents arrived Sunday, according to the Daily Mail.
The federal investigation follows a series of allegations against Swalwell, including claims of sexual assault and other misconduct. At least four women have publicly accused the former congressman of sexual misconduct. One former staffer has alleged that Swalwell raped her on two occasions, in 2019 and 2024, when she was too intoxicated to consent.
The allegations prompted investigations by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Two women who have publicly discussed allegations against Swalwell told CNN they had also spoken with the FBI.
Swalwell resigned from Congress in April after reporting the allegations in detail. Swalwell was one of President Donald Trump’s chief antagonists. Swalwell had been pulling ahead within the competitive California governor’s race. His abrupt exit upended the crowded primary race and injected fresh uncertainty into it just weeks before mail-in ballots were sent out. Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra, who had been polling toward the bottom of the list of candidates, catapulted to the top. Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton will meet in the November general election.
The Swalwell weekend searches represent a significant escalation of the investigation, bringing federal authorities directly into the case. It was not immediately clear what evidence investigators were seeking, or whether Swalwell is the target of the federal investigation or a subject of another inquiry.
On Monday, the White House declassified and released 97 pages of records related to the FBI’s long-running investigation into Swalwell’s past association with Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese spy. The documents focus on Swalwell’s relationship with Fang in 2015, though much of the information contained in the files had already been reported publicly. Swalwell was never charged with a crime stemming from the investigation.
The Washington Examiner has previously reported on Patel’s efforts to release the files.
