Swalwell’s devices were seized at the San Francisco airport on Saturday, and federal agents searched his Washington, D.C., home a day later.

Aug 20, 2026

Updated 1:55 pm PT

Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press

Former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell attends the SEIU-United Service Workers West Gubernatorial Candidate Worker Forum in Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 10, 2026. Swalwell’s devices were seized at the San Francisco airport on Saturday and agents executed a search warrant at his home in Washington, D.C., a day later, as part of a sexual misconduct probe. (Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images)

Federal agents seized electronic devices from former Rep. Eric Swalwell and searched his Washington home as part of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by the ex-Democratic congressman from California, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Swalwell’s devices were seized at the San Francisco airport on Saturday and agents executed a search warrant at his home a day later, said the person, who was not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A message seeking comment was left Thursday with an attorney for Swalwell, who has denied allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. The Daily Mail first reported the seizure of Swalwell’s devices on Thursday.

Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress in April following allegations that Swalwell had sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him. The San Francisco Chronicle, followed by CNN, first reported the allegations. CNN also reported that three other women alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by Swalwell, including sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.

Lonna Drewes, left, listens to her lawyers Arick Fudali and Lisa Bloom during a press conference where she described her claims about sexual misconduct by former US Rep. Eric Swalwell in Beverly Hills, California, on April 14, 2026.

The seven-term lawmaker had been seen as one of the leading candidates in California’s gubernatorial race before dropping out after the allegations surfaced.

The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg confirmed in April that it was investigating Swalwell after a former staffer told CNN and the Chronicle that Swalwell raped her at a hotel while he was in New York City for a charity gala in 2024. In a statement, Bragg’s office encouraged “survivors and anyone with knowledge of these allegations to contact our Special Victims Division.”

A lawyer representing Lonna Drewes, a California woman who in April said she had been raped in 2018 by Swalwell, said his team was cooperating with all law enforcement agencies investigating the former congressman.

“We are encouraged to learn about the escalation of the FBI’s investigation into the allegations against Eric Swalwell,” attorney Arick Fudali said in a statement.

Federal investigators alerted Swalwell to their concerns and briefed Congress about Fang in 2015, at which point Swalwell says he cut off contact with her. He was not accused of wrongdoing and a House Ethics Committee investigation that was opened in 2021 closed two years later without any action.

Associated Press reporter Michael R. Sisak in New York and Olga Rodriguez in San Francisco contributed to this report.