Former US Congressman Eric Swalwell has been stopped by the FBI at an airport and had electronic devices seized as federal agents investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
Agents also searched his home in Washington DC over the weekend while executing a federal search warrant, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US media partner.
The investigation represents a major escalation for Swalwell, who previously held a prominent position in national Democratic politics and was frequently seen publicly criticising President Donald Trump.
Swalwell Faces Multiple Investigations
The federal investigation is not the only legal scrutiny facing the 45-year-old former congressman.
Swalwell is also reportedly the subject of criminal investigations by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department over accusations including rape and sexual assault.
Several women have made allegations against him, including claims that he raped a woman who was allegedly too intoxicated to respond and that he sent unsolicited nude photographs.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and Swalwell has previously denied them.
His attorney, Sara Azari, described the accusations as false and fabricated when they first became public, calling them a politically motivated effort to damage his reputation.
The BBC said it has contacted Swalwell for comment.
Political Career Collapsed After Allegations
The investigation comes after a dramatic collapse in Swalwell’s political career.
Earlier this year, he withdrew from the California governor’s race after the allegations emerged.
At the time, he had been considered a leading contender in the campaign.
He subsequently announced his departure from the US House of Representatives, ending a congressional career that had made him a familiar figure in national political debates.
The House ethics committee had also opened an investigation into the allegations.
That inquiry ended after Swalwell ceased to be a member of Congress.
A Prominent Trump Critic Under Federal Scrutiny
Swalwell’s political profile made the allegations particularly significant.
As a Democrat, he became one of Trump’s most outspoken critics and regularly appeared on television to challenge the Republican president and his administration.
His departure from Congress therefore removed a prominent voice from the Democratic opposition at the same time that the allegations were placing his political future under severe pressure.
The latest federal investigation now adds another layer to the controversy surrounding the former congressman.
Separate China Spy Investigation Returns to Spotlight
Swalwell is also facing renewed attention over an entirely separate matter involving his past relationship with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative.
The White House released declassified documents on Monday concerning an earlier FBI investigation into Swalwell’s relationship with Christine Fang, a Chinese national who was suspected of being involved in espionage.
The relationship dates back more than a decade and has been publicly discussed previously.
Swalwell has never been charged with a crime in connection with Fang, and the latest release does not represent a criminal case against him.
Documents Reveal Details of Earlier Investigation
Many of the details contained in the newly released documents were already known publicly, but the disclosure has nevertheless brought the matter back into political focus.
US media organisations, including CBS News, have reported that FBI Director Kash Patel was involved in efforts to release the documents from the earlier investigation.
The renewed attention comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Swalwell, given the federal search connected to the separate sexual misconduct investigation.
Two Controversies Collide Around Former Congressman
The timing of the latest developments has placed Swalwell under an unusually intense level of scrutiny.
One investigation concerns allegations of sexual misconduct that he strongly denies, while the other relates to a past relationship that previously drew scrutiny from US counterintelligence officials but did not result in criminal charges.
The two matters are separate, and there is no indication from the information currently available that the investigations are connected.
Nevertheless, their simultaneous return to public attention has intensified questions about the former congressman’s political career and legal exposure.
Swalwell’s Political Future Remains Uncertain
For now, the federal search and seizure of his devices mark the latest development in a controversy that has already forced Swalwell out of both the California governor’s race and Congress.
The significance of the FBI investigation will depend on what agents uncover through the seized electronic devices and the search of his Washington home.
Swalwell maintains his innocence regarding the sexual misconduct allegations, while the authorities’ investigation remains ongoing.
No criminal conviction has been reported in connection with the accusations, and the allegations should therefore be treated as claims rather than established facts.
The former congressman’s once-prominent political career has already been dramatically altered.
The latest federal action ensures that the controversy surrounding him is far from over.
