Federal Agents Seize Devices From Former Rep. Swalwell in Sexual Misconduct Investigation
Federal agents seized electronic devices from former Rep. Eric Swalwell and searched his Washington home as part of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, according to a person familiar with the matter. NPR
Agents seized Swalwell's devices at San Francisco International Airport on a Saturday and carried out a search warrant at his Washington residence the next day. The Daily Mail first reported the seizure on Thursday, August 20, 2026. AP
The federal probe raises the stakes in a scandal that already pushed Swalwell out of Congress. Swalwell announced his resignation in April 2026 after allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him. The San Francisco Chronicle, followed by CNN, first reported the sexual misconduct allegations. CNN later reported that three additional women said Swalwell engaged in various forms of sexual misconduct, including sending unsolicited explicit messages and nude photos. NPR
Swalwell has denied the allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. NPR
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office confirmed in April 2026 that it was investigating Swalwell after a former staffer said he raped her at a New York City hotel during a charity gala in 2024. Bragg's office encouraged survivors and anyone with knowledge of the allegations to contact its Special Victims Division. NPR
Separately, Lonna Drewes, a California woman, said in April 2026 that Swalwell raped her in 2018 at a hotel in Southern California. Swalwell denied that assault. Drewes's legal team said it was cooperating with all law enforcement agencies investigating the former congressman. Attorney Arick Fudali, representing Drewes, said his team was encouraged about the escalation of the FBI's investigation. NPR
The investigation now spans multiple jurisdictions. Bragg's Manhattan office is examining the alleged 2024 New York assault, while federal investigators appear to be pursuing the broader pattern of allegations, including Drewes's 2018 accusation in California. The seizure of devices and execution of a residential search warrant indicate that federal authorities have obtained judicial authorization to compel evidence beyond what someone might voluntarily hand over.
Before the allegations surfaced, Swalwell had been seen as a leading candidate in California's gubernatorial race. He dropped out after the accusations became public. NPR
California lawmaker Aisha Wahab won a special election to serve the remainder of Swalwell's House term, which ends in January. NPR
Swalwell, an Iowa native first elected in 2012, represented a House district east of San Francisco. He launched a presidential campaign in April 2019 but ended it within months. During President Donald Trump's first term, Swalwell served on the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees and was one of Trump's most prominent Democratic critics in Congress. He later served as one of several Democratic prosecutors for Trump's second impeachment following the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. NPR
In 2023, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy removed Swalwell from the Intelligence Committee over Swalwell's past contact with Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese spy. Fang had come into contact with Swalwell's campaign during his first House run in 2012 and participated in fundraising for his 2014 campaign. Federal investigators alerted Swalwell to concerns about Fang and briefed Congress about her in 2015, after which Swalwell said he cut off contact. Swalwell was not accused of wrongdoing in connection with Fang, and a House Ethics Committee investigation opened in 2021 closed two years later without any action. NPR
The broader context here is the speed of Swalwell's political collapse. In early 2026 he was a viable contender for the California governorship and a former member of two of the most sensitive committees in Congress. By August, federal agents were executing search warrants on his person and residence. The federal escalation also raises practical questions about evidence preservation across the multiple devices seized, given the range of alleged conduct spanning several years and potentially multiple states. For operatives tracking the California governor's race, Swalwell's exit removed a well-funded contender from the field, though the contest has continued with its own complications, including the cancellation of a debate after accusations of bias from candidates of color. AP
The AP report on the device seizure was authored by Alanna Durkin Richer. AP
