FBI seizes Swalwell’s devices, executes search warrants in sexual misconduct probe
FBI Seizes Swalwell’s Devices in Misconduct Probe
Bizeconanalysis.com – FBI seizes Swalwell’s devices in a weekend sweep that marks a sharp escalation in the criminal investigation into the former California congressman. Two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News that federal agents executed search warrants targeting Eric Swalwell’s electronic property and his Washington, D.C. residence over the weekend, as part of a probe into allegations of sexual misconduct by the former lawmaker. The move signals that investigators have moved beyond interviews and document requests into active collection of digital evidence.
What Happened During the Weekend Searches
The first warrant was carried out Saturday night after Swalwell landed at San Francisco International Airport. The second targeted his home in the capital and was executed on Sunday, according to the sources. The Daily Mail broke the story of the searches before court documents confirmed the details. A filing in the Northern District of California on Tuesday revealed that agents took an iPhone and a MacBook Pro during the FBI’s seizure of Swalwell’s devices, giving prosecutors direct access to communications, photos, and metadata that could corroborate or contradict the allegations.
Multiple sources familiar with the investigation told CBS News that federal prosecutors are examining whether Swalwell violated Section 242 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code. That statute makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive another person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or federal statutes. The provision covers acts carried out by federal, state, or local officials both within and beyond the bounds of their lawful authority, provided the acts occur while the official purports to perform official duties. No formal charges had been filed as of the latest available reporting.
Background: Resignation and the Ethics Probe
The warrants arrive months after Swalwell dropped his California gubernatorial campaign and resigned from Congress in April amid allegations of sexual assault and other misconduct from several women. He had represented Bay Area districts in the House since 2013. The accusations ranged from rape to unsolicited explicit messages and nude photographs, and prompted the bipartisan House Ethics Committee to open its own inquiry. That committee probe, however, ended with Swalwell’s departure because its jurisdiction extends only to sitting members and staff, leaving the matter to federal prosecutors.
Swalwell publicly acknowledged making “mistakes in judgment” but called the assault allegation “false” and pledged to contest it. He has not been formally charged in connection with the misconduct allegations, and his legal team has not issued a statement addressing the weekend warrants.
Declassified FBI Files and the Spy Question
On Monday, the White House released 97 pages of declassified documents stemming from an earlier FBI investigation into Swalwell’s 2015 relationship with Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative. Many of the details in the release were already in the public record, and Swalwell was never charged in that matter. Sources told CBS News that FBI Director Kash Patel had been pressing the administration to make the files public, a detail first reported by The Washington Post. The timing of the release—days before the search warrants—has drawn attention to the broader scope of federal interest in the former representative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the FBI seize Swalwell’s devices? Federal agents executed search warrants as part of a criminal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against the former congressman. The FBI seizure of Swalwell’s devices included an iPhone and a MacBook Pro, per a court filing in the Northern District of California. The warrants were executed over a weekend, one at an airport and one at his D.C. home.
What charges could Swalwell face? Sources indicate investigators are looking into Section 242 of Title 18, which criminalizes depriving a person of constitutional or statutory rights while acting under color of law. No formal charges had been filed as of the latest reporting, and Swalwell’s legal team has not commented on the warrants.
What happened to the House Ethics Committee investigation? The bipartisan committee opened an inquiry after multiple women accused Swalwell of misconduct. Because the committee’s jurisdiction covers only current members and staff, the probe effectively closed when Swalwell resigned from Congress in April, leaving the matter to federal authorities.