FBI raids Eric Swalwell's home and seizes devices in sexual assault probe

Aug 20, 2026

Federal agents have escalated their criminal investigation into former Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell, seizing his cellphone at San Francisco International Airport on August 15, 2026, and raiding his Washington, D.C., home the following day. The searches are tied to allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, which prompted Swalwell's resignation from Congress in April 2026. Swalwell has denied the allegations, and no formal charges have been filed.

FBI device seizures

▪FBI agents executed a search warrant and raided the Washington, D.C., residence of former Representative Eric Swalwell on Sunday, August 16, 2026, to seize additional electronic devices.
▪Federal agents seized electronic devices from former Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell at the San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
▪The FBI, the Department of Justice, and lawyers representing former Representative Eric Swalwell declined to comment on the device seizures and home search.

Sexual assault allegations

▪Former Representative Eric Swalwell has repeatedly denied all allegations of sexual assault, calling them false, though he acknowledged making mistakes in judgment.
▪Four women confirmed to CNN that they have been contacted by the FBI as part of the federal investigation into former Representative Eric Swalwell.
▪A former staffer of Eric Swalwell alleged that the then-congressman raped her in 2024 when she was heavily intoxicated, leaving her bruised and bleeding.
▪Three women alleged that former Representative Eric Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct by sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.

Congressional resignation

▪Former Representative Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress and ended his California gubernatorial campaign in April 2026 following the public emergence of sexual misconduct allegations.
▪The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department opened separate criminal investigations into former Representative Eric Swalwell following reports of sexual misconduct.

Christine Fang declassification

▪The White House released declassified records on August 17, 2026, detailing two FBI interviews where former Representative Eric Swalwell acknowledged having a physical relationship with suspected Chinese intelligence operative Christine Fang in 2015.
▪The Republican-led House Ethics Committee closed its investigation into former Representative Eric Swalwell's ties to Christine Fang in 2023.
▪Suspected Chinese operative Christine Fang helped former Representative Eric Swalwell raise funds for his 2014 reelection campaign and placed an intern in his congressional office before Swalwell cut ties with her in 2015.

Federal criminal probe

▪Former Representative Eric Swalwell has not been charged with any crime in connection with the ongoing federal investigation.
▪The federal device seizures and home search of former Representative Eric Swalwell were conducted as part of an ongoing federal criminal probe into sexual assault allegations.