Former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell was subjected to a federal criminal investigation that led to the seizure of his cellphone and laptop by FBI agents at San Francisco International Airport on August 15, according to newly obtained video footage. The California Post acquired surveillance video of the encounter, which shows Swalwell deplaning and speaking with agents at his flight gate.
Agents served Swalwell with a search warrant at approximately 8:25 p.m. The warrant led to the confiscation of a white Apple iPhone, its charging cable and wall adapter, and an Apple MacBook Pro. Records indicate that the FBI provided Swalwell with a copy of the warrant and an inventory of the seized items. The video does not show Swalwell being arrested, and he was reportedly permitted to leave the airport after the search.
The FBI warrant referenced a federal civil-rights statute, which is used to prosecute public officials for abusing government power. This suggests a potential suspicion that Swalwell may have used his official capacity to silence women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.
Additional warrants were executed by agents the following day at Swalwell's Washington, D.C., residence, where further evidence was reportedly seized. The Department of Justice initiated an investigation into Swalwell in April amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
One former staffer has accused Swalwell of rape, alleging the incident occurred when she was too intoxicated to consent. Another woman has accused him of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2018, and two other women have claimed he sent them unsolicited images of his genitals. Swalwell has denied all allegations.
The accusations led Swalwell to withdraw from his gubernatorial campaign and resign from Congress on April 14, facing a pending House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged misconduct and sexual assault involving an employee. He is also currently the subject of a state ethics investigation.
Swalwell represented California in Congress for seven terms, previously served in local government, and worked as a prosecutor. He also briefly pursued a Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. Swalwell and his representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.