FBI Raids Mansion in Investigation of Disgraced Democrat Eric Swalwell

Federal authorities raided a Beverly Hills mansion Tuesday morning as part of an expanding investigation involving former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, according to Fox News. The operation marks another major development in the legal troubles surrounding the former California congressman, who resigned earlier this year following multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.

The latest search comes approximately two months after FBI agents confronted Swalwell at San Francisco International Airport and confiscated electronic devices, including his cellphone and laptop. Investigators also searched his Washington, D.C., residence in August. Those operations were connected to a federal criminal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell was not arrested during the earlier searches, and the accusations against him remain unproven in court.

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The investigation began attracting national attention in April when several women publicly accused Swalwell of inappropriate sexual behavior, including allegations of sexual assault, unwanted explicit messages and nonconsensual sexual encounters. At least five women have come forward with accusations against the former lawmaker, who has repeatedly denied committing sexual assault.

One of the earliest allegations involved a former congressional staffer who claimed Swalwell sexually assaulted her on two occasions, first in 2019 while she worked in his office and again in 2024 after a charity event in New York City. The woman alleged that she was too intoxicated to consent during both encounters.

The former employee also described receiving sexually explicit communications and experiencing unwanted advances while working for Swalwell. Her account raised additional questions about his conduct toward employees under his supervision and whether congressional workplace rules had been violated.

CNN subsequently reported accusations from several additional women. Among the allegations were claims involving unsolicited explicit photographs and another purported sexual assault. The reports intensified scrutiny of Swalwell as he was campaigning to become California’s next governor.

Investigative reporting also identified potential corroborating material surrounding some of the accusations. CNN reviewed messages the former staffer sent to friends about her alleged experience, while relatives and another acquaintance described learning about the accusations shortly after the reported 2024 incident. Those accounts provided contemporaneous context but did not independently establish that a crime occurred.

Another accuser, Lonna Drewes, publicly alleged that Swalwell drugged and raped her at a Southern California hotel in 2018. During an April news conference, Drewes claimed she became unusually incapacitated after consuming wine and later lost consciousness during the alleged assault.

Drewes stated, “I did not consent to any sexual activity.” Her attorneys said they intended to provide investigators with supporting materials, including journal entries, text messages and photographs. Drewes also reported discussing the alleged incident during therapy, although she acknowledged that she had not undergone a sexual assault forensic examination.

The allegations triggered investigations by authorities in multiple jurisdictions. Law enforcement officials in New York examined allegations involving a 2024 hotel encounter, while authorities in Los Angeles County investigated separate accusations involving Swalwell’s conduct in California.

The case reached another significant stage in October when reports indicated that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office was reviewing evidence to determine whether criminal charges should be filed. NBC News reported on October 16 that prosecutors in the office’s sex crimes unit were evaluating a case following an investigation by sheriff’s detectives.

Federal investigators had already taken substantial steps in August. Agents seized Swalwell’s electronic devices at the San Francisco airport on August 15 before searching his Washington residence the following day. Publicly reported court records confirmed the seizure of an iPhone and laptop, although the full evidence collected and the contents of those devices have not been publicly disclosed.

Investigators have also examined whether Swalwell’s alleged conduct could involve violations of federal law connected to the misuse of official authority. Reporting on the federal search warrant indicated that authorities were considering whether someone had been deprived of constitutional rights through the misuse of government power. The existence of such an investigative theory does not establish that a violation occurred.

The scandal effectively ended Swalwell’s political career in Congress. Once considered a leading Democratic contender for California governor, he abandoned his gubernatorial campaign and resigned from the House in April after mounting pressure from colleagues and the prospect of congressional expulsion proceedings.

Before his departure, the House Ethics Committee formally opened an investigation into allegations that Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct, including possible inappropriate behavior involving a congressional employee. The committee’s April 13 announcement emphasized that it would examine whether his actions violated congressional standards or applicable laws.

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Separately, Swalwell has faced renewed attention over his past relationship with Christine Fang, a woman suspected of having connections to Chinese intelligence. Declassified FBI interview records showed that Swalwell acknowledged having a physical relationship with Fang on several occasions before investigators examined her activities. The earlier counterintelligence investigation did not result in criminal charges against Swalwell, and a congressional ethics inquiry into that matter concluded in 2023 without action.

Swalwell has consistently maintained that the sexual assault allegations are false. In announcing his resignation, he acknowledged making mistakes while rejecting the accusations of criminal wrongdoing. His attorney has also characterized the allegations as part of an effort to destroy his reputation and has threatened legal action against those responsible.

Tuesday’s Beverly Hills operation represents another development in a case that has already involved multiple accusers, searches of electronic devices, investigations across several jurisdictions and the resignation of a prominent Democratic congressman. Authorities have not publicly established what evidence, if any, was recovered during the latest search. Whether investigators ultimately pursue criminal charges remains unresolved.