Federal agents cornered Eric Swalwell at a California airport, seized his phone and laptop, then searched his Washington home while his family was away.
Quick Take
- FBI agents stopped the former congressman at San Francisco International Airport and searched his Washington, D.C. home over the weekend, seizing multiple electronic devices.
- The federal probe covers sexual misconduct allegations from several women, including claims of rape, drugging, and choking.
- The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are separately investigating rape and sexual assault accusations against him.
- Swalwell has repeatedly denied every allegation, calling them a “calculated and transparent political hit job.”
- The case adds him to a long, documented list of lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct in recent years.
Federal Agents Move In At the Airport and the Home
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents executed search warrants against Swalwell over the weekend, part of a federal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations.
Agents seized multiple electronic devices from him. He was stopped at San Francisco International Airport, and his phone was taken directly from him there before agents moved on to his Washington home.
Agents searched his Washington, D.C. home the day after serving the warrant, while his family was away. That timing detail matters.
It shows investigators moved carefully, waiting to execute a home search once the family was not present, a step consistent with a methodical federal probe rather than a rushed political stunt.
Federal agents reportedly seized electronic devices and raided the home of former Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell of California. https://t.co/cv7NTv1UaI
— 12 News (@12News) August 20, 2026
Multiple Accusers, Multiple Investigations Running at Once
Swalwell faces accusations from several women. He is under separate criminal investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for allegations of rape and sexual assault.
One accuser, Lonna Drewes, said she believes Swalwell drugged her drink in 2018, then raped and choked her during a third encounter after meeting him socially.
A former congressional staffer separately alleged two nonconsensual sexual interactions, one in 2019 while she still worked for him and another in 2024 in New York City after she left his office.
The Manhattan district attorney is examining those specific claims. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department opened its own investigation after Drewes went public with her allegations.
Swalwell’s Denials Have Been Loud and Constant
Swalwell has not stayed quiet. Four women described misconduct in an April report, and he responded directly, calling the claims false and politically timed, tied to his run for California governor.
His attorney, Sara Azari, went further, calling the accusations “false, fabricated, and deeply offensive” and describing them as “a calculated and transparent political hit job”.
Federal agents seize devices from ex-Rep. Eric Swalwell in sexual misconduct probe, AP source says
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 by the… pic.twitter.com/21VXeXibdY
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) August 21, 2026
When Swalwell announced he would resign from Congress amid the fallout, he did not soften his position. He said he would “fight the serious, false allegation made against me.”
An arrest has not happened, and these remain allegations under investigation, not proven crimes. But the scale of the response, two law enforcement agencies, a federal search warrant, and device seizures, signals investigators are treating the claims seriously.
Why This Keeps Happening in Statehouses and Congress
Swalwell’s case does not stand alone. The Associated Press has cataloged at least 147 state lawmakers across 44 states accused of sexual harassment or misconduct since 2017.
In 2024 alone, at least 14 lawmakers faced accusations, roughly double the year before. That pattern points to a workplace culture problem inside American legislatures, not a single bad actor.
Power, proximity to young staff, and weak internal reporting systems keep producing the same headlines year after year. The public deserves a full accounting, and voters deserve the truth before another election ballot is printed.
Sources:
apnews.com, rev.com, bbc.com, usatoday.com, youtube.com, theguardian.com, nbcnews.com, reuters.com, cnn.com, nytimes.com, powerfulperpetrators.org
