FBI Raids Former US Representative Eric Swalwell's Home Amid Sexual Misconduct Investigation

Federal agents have raided the Washington, DC, home of former US Representative Eric Swalwell as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged sexual misconduct, according to US media reports. Additionally, the FBI seized the former legislator’s electronic devices at San Francisco airport over the weekend, multiple reports confirmed on Thursday. When contacted by Al Jazeera, the FBI declined to comment on the matter.

This enforcement action follows Swalwell's resignation from Congress in April, a move that came months after he was viewed by some as a rising star in the Democratic Party and a prominent critic of US President Donald Trump. One woman has publicly accused Swalwell of sexual assault during his tenure in office, while four additional women have alleged that he engaged in other forms of sexual misconduct. Following these developments, Swalwell withdrew from California’s gubernatorial race, where he had previously been considered a frontrunner.

Aside from the sexual assault allegations, Swalwell has faced previous scrutiny regarding a past relationship with Christine Fang, a woman identified by US authorities as a suspected Chinese spy. Swalwell was removed from the House Intelligence Committee in 2023 due to concerns surrounding the relationship, though he stated he ended the connection after receiving warnings from federal agents. A subsequent House Ethics Committee investigation was eventually closed without taking any action.

Swalwell initially gained national attention during President Donald Trump’s first term by serving as a Democratic prosecutor during impeachment proceedings concerning Trump's alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol. Recently, the White House released FBI documents pertaining to Swalwell's connection with Christine Fang. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Swalwell's lawyer asserted that the document release was intended to penalize an outspoken critic of the current administration. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has repeatedly pledged retribution against political adversaries, leading to Department of Justice actions against several figures, most notably former FBI director James Comey, who faces charges over a social media post that prosecutors claim constituted a direct threat of violence against the president.

The latest FBI raid coincides with ongoing ballot counting in a closely contested special election to fill Swalwell’s vacant seat in Congress. As of Thursday, progressive candidate Aisha Wahab held a narrow lead of approximately 300 votes over fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez, who benefited from a late influx of spending by the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).