FBI seizes Swalwell's phone, searches home in federal investigation – USA Today

FBI agents executed multiple search warrants against former California Rep. Eric Swalwell over the weekend as part of a federal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, seizing multiple electronics from the former congressman.
Federal agents executed a search warrant against Swalwell on Aug. 15, at 8:25 p.m., ultimately taking the former congressman’s iPhone, MacBook Pro, a charging cable and a wall adapter, according to court records.
Although the warrant does not indicate where it was served, multiple news outlets reported that Swalwell was served a warrant after landing at San Francisco International Airport. An additional warrant was also served on Aug. 16 targeting his residence in Washington, DC, where agents seized additional evidence, according to The New York Times, CBS and NBC among others.
Court records show that the federal government is investigating Swalwell via federal code 18 U.S.C. § 242, which “makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States,” according to the Justice Department, as well as other offenses.
If Swalwell is found guilty of this offense, he could potentially face a range from life in prison to the death penalty, according to the Justice Department.
These seizures come months after FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly pushed for the release of files on a decade-old closed investigation regarding Swalwell and Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative.
The White House on Aug. 17 released declassified records in the investigation, including details from two FBI interviews with Swalwell in which he acknowledged he had a physical relationship with Fang on several occasions in 2015.
Fang reportedly helped Swalwell raise funds for his 2014 reelection campaign and placed an intern in his congressional office. But Swalwell cut ties with Fang in 2015 after federal agents raised concerns about her with the representative. He assisted the agency in its investigation, and in 2023, the Republican-led House Ethics Committee closed its investigation into the congressman.
Swallwell has not been charged with a crime in connection with the investigation.
The FBI declined to comment to USA TODAY about the federal investigation.
Swalwell ended his bid for California governor and resigned from Congress in April after several women alleged he committed sexual assault and misconduct.

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