Federal agents searched a luxury property in Beverly Hills on Tuesday as investigators continued examining sexual misconduct allegations against former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, whose electronic devices and Washington, D.C., residence were previously searched in August.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents raided a mansion in Beverly Hills, California, on Tuesday morning, Oct. 27, as part of an ongoing criminal investigation involving former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, marking another development in a federal probe that has included searches of the former congressman’s residence and the seizure of his electronic devices.
The search was first reported by Fox News, which confirmed that federal authorities entered the property in connection with the investigation. A law enforcement source separately told the Daily Mail that the residence belonged to a billionaire political donor connected to the case.
The identity of the property owner, the specific evidence investigators were seeking and whether any materials were seized during Tuesday’s operation were not immediately disclosed.
According to the Daily Caller’s reporting, the Beverly Hills search is connected to the FBI’s investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving Swalwell, who resigned from Congress earlier this year.
The former California congressman has denied allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, and federal prosecutors have not announced criminal charges against him.
The latest operation follows a series of federal searches conducted in August.
Agents approached Swalwell at San Francisco International Airport on Aug. 15 and seized electronic devices pursuant to a search warrant. The following day, investigators searched his residence in Washington, D.C.
CBS News reported that federal court records identified an iPhone and MacBook Pro among the items seized.
Sources familiar with the investigation said prosecutors were examining potential violations of federal civil rights law, including whether Swalwell used his official position to deprive another person of rights protected under federal law.
The statute under consideration, 18 U.S.C. Section 242, addresses willful deprivation of constitutional or federally protected rights by someone acting under color of law.
The existence of an investigation under that statute does not establish that Swalwell committed such an offense.
The investigation follows accusations made earlier this year by several women, including a former congressional staff member, who alleged that Swalwell engaged in sexual misconduct ranging from unwanted advances to sexual assault.
One former staffer accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her while she was too intoxicated to consent. Another woman, Lonna Drewes, publicly accused the former congressman of raping her in 2018.
Swalwell has rejected the allegations.
The accusations emerged while Swalwell was campaigning for governor of California. He subsequently suspended his gubernatorial campaign and announced his resignation from the House of Representatives in April.
Before leaving Congress, Swalwell acknowledged making mistakes in his personal conduct but maintained that the most serious accusations against him were false.
In his resignation announcement, Swalwell criticized efforts to remove him from Congress before the allegations had been adjudicated.
“I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong,” he said.
“But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress.”
The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the allegations before Swalwell’s departure.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Manhattan District Attorney’s Office also began examining separate accusations involving the former lawmaker.
According to ABC News, federal investigators expanded their inquiry during the summer, obtaining search warrants for Swalwell’s electronic devices and residence.
Multiple women who made allegations against Swalwell have been contacted by federal investigators, according to earlier reporting.
The Beverly Hills search indicates that investigators are continuing to pursue additional evidence months after the initial allegations became public.
However, authorities have not explained the precise relationship between the searched property and the former congressman.
A law enforcement source reportedly identified the mansion’s owner as a wealthy political donor, but officials have not announced allegations of criminal wrongdoing against the property owner.
The investigation is unfolding alongside renewed scrutiny of Swalwell’s previous contacts with Christine Fang, a woman suspected by federal authorities of having connections to Chinese intelligence.
On Monday, the White House released previously classified FBI records concerning Swalwell’s relationship with Fang.
According to Fox News’ reporting on the documents, the records describe Swalwell acknowledging past sexual encounters with Fang, including a final encounter in March 2015.
The disclosure revived questions about the former congressman’s relationship with Fang, who had developed connections with political figures in California.
Swalwell was previously briefed by federal investigators about concerns involving Fang. He was not accused of criminal wrongdoing in connection with the earlier counterintelligence investigation.
Authorities have not established that Tuesday’s Beverly Hills search relates to the Fang matter. Available reporting connects the latest operation to the continuing sexual misconduct investigation.
Swalwell served in Congress for approximately 13 years after first being elected in 2012. He became a nationally prominent Democratic critic of President Donald Trump and briefly sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2019.
His resignation in April ended his congressional career amid mounting allegations and investigations.
The criminal inquiry has continued since his departure from public office, with federal investigators examining evidence potentially relevant to the accusations.
Search warrants generally require judicial authorization based on probable cause to believe that evidence of a crime may be found at the location or among the items identified in the warrant.
However, a search does not establish that the property owner or the subject of an investigation committed a crime.
As of Tuesday morning, federal authorities had not publicly disclosed the contents of the Beverly Hills search warrant, identified any evidence recovered from the mansion or announced additional charges.
Swalwell remains uncharged in the federal investigation and continues to deny the allegations against him.
The latest raid represents another step in an ongoing inquiry involving multiple jurisdictions, but the purpose of the Beverly Hills search and its potential significance to the case remain unresolved pending additional information from investigators.
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