By CalNews360 Staff
August 20, 2026
Former California Congressman Eric Swalwell is facing a new development in a federal investigation after FBI agents searched his Washington, D.C., home and seized electronic devices from him at San Francisco International Airport, according to reports published Thursday.
The developments come months after Swalwell resigned from Congress and ended his campaign for California governor amid allegations of sexual misconduct that he has denied.
What happened to Eric Swalwell?
According to reporting based on sources familiar with the investigation, federal agents recently seized Swalwell’s phone and computer at San Francisco International Airport and searched his Washington residence.
The investigation involves allegations of sexual misconduct made against the former congressman.
Swalwell has denied the allegations. His representatives have also criticized the investigation and questioned the government’s actions.
Importantly, being investigated does not mean that a person has been charged with or found guilty of a crime.
Why is Swalwell back in the news?
Swalwell’s name had already been prominent in California politics this year.
He resigned from Congress in April after allegations of sexual misconduct became public and subsequently withdrew from the California governor’s race.
His resignation triggered a special election in California’s 14th Congressional District.
That election was held this week, with State Sen. Aisha Wahab winning the seat, according to projections reported Thursday.
The timing has therefore brought renewed attention to Swalwell just as his former congressional seat is changing hands.
What are investigators looking into?
The federal investigation follows multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against Swalwell.
Reports say investigators have been examining allegations involving several women. Swalwell has denied wrongdoing, while acknowledging what he has described as serious personal mistakes.
Other law-enforcement investigations involving the allegations have also been reported.
At this stage, the full scope of the federal investigation has not been publicly established.
Was Eric Swalwell arrested?
No.
The reported search of his home and seizure of electronic devices do not by themselves indicate that Swalwell has been arrested or charged.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Federal investigators have not publicly disclosed all of the evidence they are seeking or what information they may have obtained from the seized devices.
What happens next?
The investigation could continue for some time.
Federal authorities may review information obtained during the searches before deciding whether further investigative or legal action is appropriate.
For now, there has been no public announcement of criminal charges against Swalwell in connection with the investigation.
His legal team is expected to continue contesting the allegations.
The California connection
Although the reported FBI activity took place in Washington and at a San Francisco airport, the story has particular significance in California because Swalwell represented the Bay Area in Congress for more than a decade.
His departure from Congress also triggered a highly watched special election in the district he previously represented.
State Sen. Aisha Wahab has now been projected to win that special election and will serve the remainder of the congressional term.
The bottom line
Former Congressman Eric Swalwell is facing renewed scrutiny after federal agents reportedly searched his Washington home and seized electronic devices from him at San Francisco International Airport.
The investigation follows multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, which Swalwell denies.
At this point, the investigation remains ongoing and no criminal conviction has been established.
CalNews360 will continue to follow the case as verified information becomes available.
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, PBS NewsHour and reporting from California news organizations.
Image note: The image used with this article is AI-generated for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual FBI operation, residence, person, or event.
