FBI agents executed search warrants against former Representative Eric Swalwell over the weekend as part of a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Authorities seized electronic devices from the former lawmaker at the San Francisco International Airport on Saturday night and at his residence in Washington, D.C., on Sunday.
Swalwell ended his bid for governor and resigned from his seat in Congress this past April. This resignation followed multiple accusations of misconduct from several women, including claims of sexual assault and the transmission of unsolicited explicit messages. The House Ethics Committee had launched an inquiry into these claims, but the process concluded when he left office, as the committee lacks jurisdiction over private citizens.
While Swalwell has admitted to errors in judgment, he continues to deny the allegations of sexual assault. He has stated his intent to challenge these claims as the legal process moves forward.
In a separate development, the White House released 97 pages of declassified documents regarding a long-standing FBI investigation into Swalwell. This case involved his prior relationship with Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative. These files indicate that federal investigators examined the connection over a decade ago. Although these details were previously public, the release follows reported pressure from FBI Director Kash Patel to make the information available.
The timing of these search warrants marks a significant escalation in the ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding the former representative. Law enforcement agencies have not provided further comment on the current status of the criminal probe, and the seized electronics will now undergo forensic review by investigators.