Federal agents reportedly took former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s electronic devices at San Francisco International Airport, then searched his Washington, D.C., home the following day—an unusually public escalation in an investigation involving allegations of sexual misconduct.
The device seizure happened Saturday, August 15, and agents executed a search warrant at the Washington residence on Sunday, August 16, according to people familiar with the matter cited by The Associated Press, Reuters and ABC News.
The reports rely on unnamed sources who said they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly. As of Thursday evening, August 20, the reports did not announce any criminal charge against Swalwell. A search warrant is an investigative step, not proof that a crime occurred.
What agents reportedly seized
AP reported that agents seized Swalwell’s electronic devices at the San Francisco airport on Saturday and searched his home one day later. Reuters similarly reported that the FBI took devices at San Francisco International Airport and searched a Washington residence over the weekend.
ABC News added that the warrant covered Swalwell’s cellphone and other electronic devices. The outlet described the federal action as part of an ongoing criminal probe connected to sexual-assault allegations.
Swalwell’s attorney did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. AP said it also left a message with a lawyer for the former congressman.
The allegations and Swalwell’s response
Swalwell resigned from Congress and ended his campaign for California governor in April after several women accused him of sexual misconduct. The allegations reported by major news organizations range from sexual assault to sending unsolicited explicit messages or images.
Swalwell has denied allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. When announcing his resignation, he apologized to his family, staff and constituents while calling a serious allegation against him false and saying he intended to fight it. He argued that an immediate expulsion vote without due process would be wrong, but said the dispute would distract him from serving his constituents.
The allegations remain unproven in court. Meeko News is not identifying accusers beyond those who have spoken publicly, and it is not treating any allegation as a finding of guilt.
More than one jurisdiction has examined claims
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed in April that it was investigating after a former staffer accused Swalwell of assaulting her in New York in 2024, according to AP. The office encouraged people with relevant information to contact its Special Victims Division.
AP also reported that an attorney representing Lonna Drewes, who publicly accused Swalwell of assaulting her in Southern California in 2018, said his team was cooperating with law-enforcement agencies. ABC News reported that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department opened an investigation into Drewes’ allegation. Swalwell denied that accusation as well.
Why the federal searches change the story
The jump from public allegations to court-authorized searches is significant because investigators ordinarily must persuade a judge that there is probable cause to believe a search will uncover evidence connected to a crime. That standard is higher than mere suspicion—but it is still far short of the evidence required for a conviction.
Swalwell represented an East Bay district after first winning election to Congress in 2012. He became nationally known as a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, served on the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees, acted as a manager in Trump’s second impeachment, and briefly ran for president in 2019.
The next major developments to watch are whether federal authorities publicly confirm the scope of the investigation, whether prosecutors seek charges, and whether Swalwell or his legal team offers a detailed response to the searches. Until then, the most consequential facts are also the narrowest: devices were reportedly seized, a Washington home was searched, and the investigation remains unresolved.
Editor’s note: The featured image is an original illustrative composition. It does not depict Eric Swalwell, an accuser, law-enforcement personnel or any real participant.
