Criminal Investigation Into Former Congressman Eric Swalwell Gains Momentum As FBI Agents Ambush Him at Airport, Seize His Devices
He has denied any wrongdoing.
Federal agents just ambushed former Congressman Eric Swalwell at an airport and seized his electronic devices as part of a criminal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. According to BBC, the FBI stopped Swalwell at San Francisco International Airport on the night of August 15, 2026, took his devices, and then raided his Washington D.C. home the next day under search warrants.
Swalwell, 45, has been under federal investigation for months after multiple women accused him of rape, sexual assault, and sending unsolicited nude photographs. He dropped out of the California governor’s race in April where he was the frontrunner and resigned from Congress after the House Ethics Committee launched an investigation. His attorney Sara Azari called the allegations “false, fabricated, and deeply offensive” and a “calculated and transparent political hit job.”
Court filings in the Northern District of California confirm agents seized an iPhone and a MacBook Pro during the searches, per CBS News. Investigators are reportedly looking at potential charges under Section 242 of Title 18, which makes it a crime for someone acting under the color of law to willfully deprive a person of constitutional rights. That could include acts done beyond official authority if the person was pretending to act in an official capacity.
The FBI’s weekend actions mark a major escalation in the federal probe
Swalwell is under fire over accusations from multiple women. One accusation says that he raped a victim while she was too intoxicated to respond. He acknowledged making “mistakes in judgment” but denied the assault allegation and vowed to fight it. The House Ethics Committee’s investigation ended when he resigned since the committee only has jurisdiction over current members and staff.
This isn’t the first time Swalwell has been in the FBI’s crosshairs. Recently, the White House released declassified documents from a separate FBI investigation into his alleged relationship with a suspected Chinese spy over a decade ago.
The 97 pages of documents detail his 2015 relationship with Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative. Swalwell was never charged in that case, and many of the details were already public. Sources say FBI Director Kash Patel pushed for the release of those files.
The timing of the searches is striking
It comes just as state Senator Aisha Wahab won the special election to replace Swalwell in Congress. Wahab, a progressive Democrat from the party’s left wing, defeated fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez in a closely watched race.
According to NBC News, with 95% of the expected vote counted, Wahab led 53% to 47%. The race drew national attention after a super PAC aligned with the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent about $2.5 million against Wahab in the final weeks. Wahab has been vocal about her criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, calling it genocide, and her campaign website condemned “AIPAC-linked dark-money PACs” for trying to “tear Aisha Wahab down.”
Hernandez, the only candidate who didn’t answer “yes” when asked if Israel was committing genocide, didn’t get the same financial backing. It’s the latest example of AIPAC’s influence in Democratic primaries, though their preferred candidates haven’t always won. In Michigan, their super PAC spent over $30 million to boost Rep. Haley Stevens in her Senate primary, only for her to lose to Abdul El-Sayed.
Swalwell has other legal troubles too
In addition to the federal investigation, he’s also under criminal investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for accusations of rape and sexual assault. The FBI’s recent actions suggest prosecutors are building a case. If charged under Section 242, Swalwell could face serious legal consequences, especially if investigators can prove he used his position of power to commit the alleged crimes.
The seizure of his devices is a significant development. Digital forensics can uncover deleted messages, photos, and other evidence that might corroborate the accusers’ claims. It’s a standard but aggressive move in cases involving electronic evidence, and it signals that the investigation is in an advanced stage. Swalwell hasn’t commented publicly since the searches, but his legal team is likely preparing for a lengthy legal battle.
Swalwell was once a rising star in the Democratic Party, frequently appearing on cable news to criticize the President. But the allegations and subsequent investigations have derailed his ambitions. His resignation from Congress and withdrawal from the governor’s race were swift, and the FBI’s recent actions suggest the legal fallout is just beginning.
Wahab’s victory in the special election means she’ll serve the remainder of Swalwell’s term, which ends in January. She’ll have to hit the ground running in a district that’s been without representation since April. Her win also reflects the growing influence of progressive Democrats in the party, even as groups like AIPAC continue to pour money into primary races to counter that shift.
(Featured image: Gage Skidmore)
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