FBI Seizes Swalwell's iPhone, Laptop at SFO
FBI Seizes Swalwell's iPhone, Laptop at SFO
The News
The news
FBI agents seized former Rep. Eric Swalwell's iPhone and MacBook computer at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday evening and searched his Washington, D.C., home the next day, according to a document filed in federal court in San Francisco and reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. The San Francisco Standard first reported the court document detailing the device seizure.
The Associated Press reported that federal agents seized electronic devices from Swalwell and searched his Washington home as part of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, citing a person familiar with the matter.
A person familiar with the inquiry told the Los Angeles Times that agents briefly detained Swalwell at SFO on Saturday and released him the same day. The Times reported the D.C. home was searched Sunday under a warrant tied to a civil rights investigation into the sexual assault allegations.
The Chronicle reported that Swalwell was given a copy of the warrant, which the court has sealed, and that the court filings indicate the investigation involves a federal law barring government officials from using their power to deprive another person of their civil rights.
The Daily Mail reported it obtained footage showing law enforcement arriving at the D.C. property in unmarked vehicles Sunday morning and seizing "undisclosed potential evidence."
No charges
Swalwell has not been charged with any crime in connection with the allegations, Rolling Stone reported. Spokespeople for the Justice Department and the FBI field offices in Washington and San Francisco declined to comment on the reported raid and device seizure, according to the Chronicle.
Reactions
What Swalwell has said
Swalwell has denied assaulting anyone, the Chronicle reported. His attorney, Sara Azari, said in April that he denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and assault and would pursue "every legal remedy" against those making the claims.
"These accusations are false, fabricated and deeply offensive — a calculated and transparent political hit job designed to destroy the reputation of a man who has spent 20 years in public service," Azari said, per the Los Angeles Times.
In his April resignation statement, quoted by Rolling Stone, Swalwell said he would "fight the serious false allegations made against me," adding: "however, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make. I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process within days of an allegation being made is wrong, but it's also wrong for my constituents, to have me distracted from my duties."
Another accuser, Lonna Drewes, said at an April news conference that Swalwell drugged and raped her in 2018. "He raped me and he choked me and while he was choking me I lost consciousness and I thought I died," she said, per the Times. "I did not consent to any sexual activity." Azari denied Drewes' characterization at the time, saying: "Two adults consenting, which is our position, is not against the law."
Drewes' lawyer, Arick Fudali, welcomed the escalation in a statement to the Chronicle: "We are encouraged to learn about the escalation of the FBI's investigation into the allegations against Eric Swalwell. We will continue to cooperate with any and all law enforcement agencies pursuing this matter."
More
The Chronicle reported that Azari did not respond Thursday morning to a request for comment on the reported FBI raid.
The allegations
Swalwell, a Democrat from Dublin, was a front-runner for California governor until the Chronicle reported on April 10 the account of a former staffer who said he sexually assaulted her twice. CNN published allegations from several more women the same day. He dropped out of the race two days later and resigned his House seat two days after that, the Chronicle reported.
The former staffer told the Chronicle that Swalwell began sending her nude pictures on Snapchat after she was hired in 2019, when she was 21; that she blacked out that September and woke up naked in his hotel bed; and that in 2024, after she had left his office, he forced himself on her as she pushed him away and said "No," according to the Los Angeles Times.
Other investigations, and the timing
The FBI is one of several agencies looking at the allegations, the Chronicle reported. The former staffer has said she is cooperating with an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, and a spokesperson for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office confirmed that office is investigating Drewes' allegations. Swalwell also faces a state inquiry into his use of campaign funds to pay lawyers, the Chronicle reported.
The weekend actions came days before the White House on Monday released documents from a separate, earlier FBI investigation into Swalwell's ties to an alleged Chinese spy, according to the Chronicle. Those documents show Swalwell told the FBI in 2016 he had "occasionally hooked up" with a woman later accused of being a spy. He was not charged in that matter. Azari said Monday there was "nothing new" in the documents and added: "What is new and deeply concerning is the apparent use of federal law enforcement information to punish an outspoken critic of the current administration. An investigation that produced no charges and no finding of wrongdoing should not be resurrected years later as a vehicle for political retaliation."
The seat
The searches land days after voters picked Swalwell's replacement. State Sen. Aisha Wahab led the special election runoff to complete his congressional term, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Colleges Condemn Students Mocking Kirk Assassination Anniversary
Charleston White Arrested Again on Florida Battery Charge
Sep 13, 2026
Border Patrol Rescues MS NOW Crew in Desert
Sep 13, 2026
Supreme Court Restores Missouri's Old House Map
Sep 13, 2026
Alaska Drops Felony Voter Charges Against Samoans
Sep 13, 2026
Trespasser Breaches Harris' Malibu Estate; No Arrest
Sep 12, 2026
Hegseth Pressed Downed Airmen Into 60 Minutes
Sep 12, 2026
Houthis Seize Mokha, Choking Saudi Oil Exports
Sep 12, 2026
Altman Rules Out OpenAI IPO This Year
Sep 12, 2026
Jury Acquits Lil Durk in Murder-for-Hire Case
Sep 12, 2026
Judge: Trump Broke Law Halving FEMA Staff
Sep 12, 2026
Maher Calls Democrats' Gaza Genocide Claim a Lie
Sep 12, 2026
Blizzard Revives StarCraft, Sends Diablo to Netflix
Sep 12, 2026
Trump's Queens Childhood Home Sells for $1.93M
Sep 12, 2026
Scientists Find New Virus in Tick Invading US
Sep 12, 2026
Britain Bans Settlement Imports; US States Threaten Payback
Sep 12, 2026
Prison Fire Kills 7 as Kurds Protest Killing
Sep 12, 2026
Kosovo Rallies for Ex-President Before Hague Verdict
Sep 12, 2026
Cruz Booed at GameDay Over College Sports Bill
Sep 12, 2026
Blast Hits Bulgarian Arms Plant Supplying Ukraine
Sep 12, 2026
Sep 13, 2026