Govind Tekale
FBI agents searched the home of former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell in Washington, D.C., and seized his electronic devices at San Francisco International Airport. The actions came over the weekend of August 20-21, 2026, as part of a sexual misconduct investigation.
Swalwell resigned from Congress earlier in 2026 after four women described sexual misconduct allegations against him. A former staffer alleged Swalwell raped her in 2024 when she was heavily intoxicated. She described a second incident in 2019 where she woke up naked in a hotel room after heavy drinking. Three other women alleged receiving unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.
CNN published an investigation on April 10, 2026, detailing the allegations. CNN reviewed screenshots of dozens of messages and found corroboration from family members and friends. The women described a similar pattern: Swalwell showed close interest in their professional lives, then sent increasingly sexual messages. Some alleged unwanted physical touch or sexual assault, often tied to heavy drinking.
Swalwell has denied the allegations. In a statement to CNN, he called the claims “false” and said they came “on the eve of an election against the front-runner for governor.” His attorney sent cease-and-desist letters to two women, calling their accounts “false” and warning of legal action.
The Department of Justice opened an investigation after Swalwell’s resignation. The August 2026 search warrants represent a significant escalation. FBI agents seized electronic devices at SFO and searched his D.C. home.
Swalwell, a Democrat from the San Francisco Bay Area, had announced a run for California governor. He had ascended in polls before the April allegations surfaced.
Some messages were sent via Snapchat, where messages automatically delete. One woman said Swalwell complimented her swimsuit photo on Instagram and wrote “That swimsuit. Fuck.” Another received unsolicited videos of his penis.
CNN also spoke to former staffers who said they never experienced inappropriate interactions with Swalwell.
