Former Rep. Eric Swalwell reportedly encountered FBI agents at San Francisco International Airport, where federal investigators seized his cellphone and other electronic devices as part of an ongoing investigation connected to sexual assault allegations. The airport encounter was followed by the execution of additional search warrants at Swalwell’s Washington, D.C., residence, according to reports. The searches mark a significant escalation in the federal investigation, but they do not establish that Swalwell committed a crime. No criminal charges have been announced against the former California congressman, who has denied the sexual misconduct allegations against him.
Federal agents served Swalwell with a search warrant on Saturday after he arrived at San Francisco International Airport, sources familiar with the investigation told CNN. Agents reportedly seized his cellphone and other electronics during the encounter. Swalwell, 45, reportedly cooperated with investigators. The following day, agents executed additional warrants at his Washington, D.C., home and removed other potential evidence.
Neither the reported existence of search warrants nor the seizure of electronic devices means that prosecutors have proven any allegation. A search warrant generally authorizes investigators to look for potential evidence after presenting a judge with information supporting probable cause, according to the New York Post.
It remains unclear what evidence agents were seeking, what they may have recovered, or whether the investigation will lead to charges. Swalwell and his attorney did not immediately respond to CNN’s requests for comment. The Department of Justice has also not publicly detailed the investigation’s scope.
Former Staffer Accused Swalwell Of Sexual Assault
6The federal investigation follows a series of sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced earlier this year. A former staffer accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice when she was allegedly too intoxicated to consent. One alleged incident reportedly occurred in a New York City hotel in 2024. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office opened an investigation into the allegations, Reuters reported in April.
Another woman accused Swalwell of drugging her before allegedly assaulting her in 2018. Two other women alleged that he sent them unsolicited explicit images.
All of the allegations remain unproven. Swalwell has maintained his innocence and denied engaging in sexual misconduct. The Department of Justice reportedly opened its own investigation in April, while the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was also examining separate allegations.
The Allegations Ended His Political Campaign
6Swalwell had been considered a leading candidate in California’s gubernatorial race before four women publicly accused him of misconduct. As the political pressure intensified, he ended his campaign for governor and announced his resignation from Congress. Swalwell resigned on April 14, 2026, according to the official House record. His departure came as the House faced calls to investigate the accusations and consider disciplinary action.
He had served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and briefly sought the Democratic presidential nomination during the 2020 election cycle. The former congressman has largely stayed out of the public spotlight since leaving office.
Declassified Records Revealed His Relationship With Christine Fang
6The reported FBI searches occurred days after declassified records supplied new information about Swalwell’s past interactions with Christine Fang, a Chinese national whom U.S. authorities suspected of operating on behalf of Chinese intelligence.
The White House Transparency Task Force released the records, which concerned a separate counterintelligence investigation from years earlier. They were not part of the sexual misconduct investigation that reportedly led agents to seize Swalwell’s electronics. According to the declassified FBI interview summaries, Swalwell acknowledged having “occasionally hooked up” with Fang.
Other records described their encounters as occurring on a handful of occasions. Swalwell was never criminally charged in connection with his interactions with Fang, and a previous House Ethics Committee investigation ended without action.
The newly released documents nevertheless brought renewed attention to a controversy that had followed Swalwell for years. ABC7 News reported that the records offered the most detailed public account of the relationship yet.
Swalwell’s wife, Brittany Watts, has not publicly addressed the sexual misconduct allegations or the reported FBI searches.
Donald Trump Has Faced Separate Sexual Misconduct Allegations
6Swalwell’s scandal is not the first time sexual misconduct allegations have engulfed a major American political figure. Numerous women have accused President Donald Trump of conduct ranging from unwanted kissing and touching to sexual assault. Trump has consistently denied the accusations and described them as false or politically motivated.
The most consequential case involved writer E. Jean Carroll. In 2023, a federal jury found Trump civilly liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll and awarded her $5 million. The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined for a second time to review Trump’s challenge to that verdict, leaving the $5 million judgment intact, according to Reuters.
A separate jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in 2024 over additional defamatory statements. Contrary to some reports, Trump’s appeal concerning that second award remains pending and has not been conclusively rejected by the Supreme Court.
Donald Trump Faced Backlash Over The ‘Access Hollywood’ Tape
6Trump also faced widespread backlash in 2016 following the release of the 2005 “Access Hollywood” recording in which he made graphic comments about women. The tape became part of the broader public discussion surrounding the accusations against him.
These cases are unrelated to the Swalwell investigation, but they demonstrate how allegations of sexual misconduct have created legal and political consequences across party lines.
For Swalwell, the immediate question is what federal investigators were seeking through the airport seizure and Washington warrants. Until authorities announce their findings or file charges, the investigation remains active, and the allegations against him remain unresolved.
