FBI raids home and seizes electronics of ex-Rep Eric Swalwell in sexual assault probe: report

Federal agents raided the home of former House Representative Eric Swalwell and seized his electronic devices over the weekend as part of an ongoing investigation potentially related to sexual assault allegations, CNN reported Thursday. FBI agents confronted Swalwell at San Francisco airport Saturday to obtain his electronic devices before raiding his home in Washington, D.C., Sunday, sources told the news outlet. Swalwell, 45, resigned from his position in Congress in April after multiple women came forward publicly with accusations ranging from rape to sexual misconduct. Swalwell has denied the accusations against him.The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department have opened criminal investigations into Swalwell. The House Ethics Committee also opened a probe prior to Swalwell’s resignation.The FBI declined to comment for this story. The Independent has an attorney for Swalwell for comment. Former California representative Eric Swalwell is facing investigations into his alleged sexual misconduct (AFP/Getty)Swalwell had represented California’s 15th and 14th districts over his 13-year tenure in Congress and was the leading Democratic candidate in the race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom. He had received roughly two dozen endorsements from top lawmakers, labor unions and organizations before he suspended his campaign. In early April, the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN published reports within hours of each other that contained allegations from women accusing Swalwell of sexual misconduct.One woman, who once worked for Swalwell, told the Chronicle that the former congressman had sexually assaulted her twice between 2019 and 2024. At the time, Swalwell was 17 years older than the staffer and was roughly two years into his current marriage.Three other women told CNN they experienced a range of sexual misconduct by the congressman between 2021 and 2025, from receiving unsolicited nude photos to unwanted physical advances while intoxicated.Lonna Drewes (pictured left) came forward, earlier this year, with accusations that former Rep Eric Swalwell drugged and raped her in 2018 (Getty)Among the most serious of the allegations, Lonna Drewes, a woman who knew Swalwell socially, accused the former lawmaker of drugging, choking and raping her in 2018.Sara Azari, an attorney for Swalwell, had previously released a statement saying Swalwell “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him.” She vowed to pursue legal remedies “against those responsible for orchestrating this reprehensible campaign of lies.”It is unclear what the exact subject of the FBI investigation.In March, before the sexual assault allegations came to light, FBI Director Kash Patel had reportedly been pushing to release a decade-old file on Swalwell that contained allegations that Swalwell had a physical relationship with a suspected Chinese operative. The White House released documents accusing Christine Fang (pictured right) of having a physical relationship in the mid-2010s with former Rep Eric Swalwell (pictured left) (Facebook)Monday, the White House Transparency Task Force released files under the name “Rusty Thumb” that allege Swalwell had a physical relationship with Christine Fang. Swalwell allegedly admitted he would “occasionally hooked up” with the suspected operative.