FBI Raids Beverly Hills Mansion Tied to Eric Swalwell Investigation
The search is reportedly connected to the ongoing sexual misconduct probe involving the former congressman.
Federal agents executed a search warrant Tuesday morning at a mansion in Beverly Hills, California, as part of an investigation into former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif. The raid is believed to be connected to the sexual misconduct probe that Swalwell is facing.
This action follows an August incident where FBI agents seized Swalwell's electronic devices at San Francisco International Airport. The devices, including his cell phone, MacBook Pro, and charging accessories, were taken under a search warrant. Sources indicated at the time that the operation was related to a federal criminal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.
Allegations and Prior Investigations
Swalwell has been accused of sexual misconduct by at least five women, including a former staffer who alleges he raped her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent. Another woman has accused him of drugging and raping her in 2018, and two others reported receiving unsolicited explicit images from him. The Department of Justice reportedly launched its investigation into the former congressman in April.
Swalwell previously faced scrutiny for his relationship with Christine "Fang Fang" Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative. Declassified FBI records released in August revealed that Swalwell told agents he had "physical relations" with Fang on multiple occasions, with their last encounter reported in March 2015. Swalwell was interviewed by the FBI regarding this relationship in May 2015 and again in March 2016.
Swalwell's Departure from Congress
These allegations and scrutiny ultimately led to Swalwell's resignation from Congress in April. He had spent 13 years in the House of Representatives and had also withdrawn from the California gubernatorial race earlier in the year. At the time of his resignation, Swalwell stated, "I will fight the serious false allegations made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make."
Swalwell has vehemently denied the sexual assault and misconduct allegations, though he acknowledged making "mistakes in judgment" and apologized to his wife. The ongoing investigations by federal and local authorities, including the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, continue.