Federal agents seized electronic devices from former Representative Eric Swalwell and searched his Washington, D.C., home as part of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. The devices were taken when Swalwell was stopped by the FBI at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, and a search warrant was executed at his residence the following day.

Swalwell, a Democrat who represented California's 14th congressional district for seven terms, resigned from Congress in April 2026 after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct. One former staffer alleged that Swalwell raped her at a hotel in New York City in 2024 while attending a charity gala. Three other women reported receiving unsolicited explicit messages or photos from him. Another woman, Lonna Drewes, accused Swalwell of drugging, raping, and choking her in a California hotel room in 2018. Swalwell has denied all allegations, with his attorney Sara Azari previously describing the accusations as false, fabricated, and politically motivated.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department are investigating the allegations. The House Ethics Committee also launched an investigation, which concluded after Swalwell left office. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced in April that her office opened a tip line to gather information about Swalwell's conduct. FBI Director Kash Patel called for information regarding the case.

Swalwell had been considered a leading candidate in California's gubernatorial race before withdrawing his candidacy following the emergence of the allegations. He previously ran for president in 2019 but ended his campaign after failing to gain traction with voters. He served on the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees and acted as one of the Democratic prosecutors during President Trump's second impeachment trial following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

In 2023, Swalwell was removed from the Intelligence Committee by then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy due to his past contact with Christine Fang, a woman suspected of being a Chinese intelligence operative. Federal investigators raised concerns about Fang in 2015, and Swalwell has said he ended contact with her at that time. A House Ethics Committee investigation into those matters concluded in 2023 without any action. The White House recently released declassified documents regarding the prior FBI investigation into Swalwell's relationship with Fang.

A special election was held to fill the remainder of Swalwell's House term, which ends in January. State Senator Aisha Wahab won the race and will seek a full two-year term in the November election.

No criminal charges have been filed against Swalwell in connection with the current investigation. The FBI declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

Original Sources/Tags: apnews.com, abc7news.com, bbc.com, nbcnews.com, usatoday.com, theguardian.com, nbcbayarea.com, npr.org, (washington), (california), (perth), (perthshire), (scotland), (darwin), (bangladesh), (australia), (nike), (nfl), (fbi), (competition), (controversy), (backlash)

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The text hides who really made this decision. When it says a "source familiar with the matter" gave the news, it does not say who that source is or why they talked. The hidden source makes it seem like the story just appeared by accident. This helps the system look fair instead of slow. The words hide that someone chose to share this information.

The text makes excuses for the attacker. When it says Swalwell "has denied all allegations," it gives him a chance to speak. The word "denied" makes it sound like maybe he is telling the truth. This helps Swalwell look like he is not guilty, not the one who hurt people. The excuse hides that multiple women said he did bad things.

The text hides the victim's pain. It says women were hurt but does not say how badly they were hurt or how they felt. The missing facts make the crimes seem less serious. This helps readers forget that real people were harmed. The silence protects Swalwell's image.

The text uses past crimes to explain this one. When it says Swalwell "was removed from the Intelligence Committee," it shows a pattern. But it does not say if he learned from the last time. The pattern makes him look like he keeps choosing bad behavior. The words hide that he may not want to stop.

The text makes the political role sound important. When it says he "was one of the top Democratic critics of Republican President Donald Trump," it adds a title. This makes him look like a real politician, not a man who hurt women. The title helps Swalwell look like a normal person, not a bad one. The facts hide that he hurt people while in office.

The text hides what happens next. When it says a "special election was held," it does not say if justice will be done. The future talk makes the case seem finished. This helps the court look careful instead of slow. The words hide that the victims may never get real justice.

The text makes the investigation sound neutral. When it says "Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg confirmed," it uses plain words. This makes the case sound like a normal legal matter, not a serious crime. The plain words help readers forget that real people were hurt. The facts hide that this is about real harm.

The text hides the power behind the search. When it says "federal agents executed search warrants," it does not say who told them to do this. The hidden power makes it seem like the search just happened by accident. This helps the government look fair instead of targeting one person. The words hide that someone in power chose to act.

The text uses numbers to make things seem normal. When it says he "represented a district for seven terms," it adds facts that make him look like a regular politician. The numbers help readers forget that he is accused of serious crimes. This helps Swalwell look like a normal man, not a bad one. The facts hide that he hurt people while serving.

The input text carries several emotions that shape how readers understand the serious situation involving former Representative Eric Swalwell. One of the strongest emotions is fear. Words like "rape," "sexual assault," and "unsolicited explicit messages" create a deep sense of danger and worry. The mention of multiple women coming forward with serious accusations makes readers feel that something very wrong happened. This fear is meant to show that the situation is dangerous and that people in power must be held responsible. Another powerful emotion is anger. The text says that Swalwell "has denied all allegations," but the details about rape and sending nude photos make readers feel upset and angry. This anger pushes readers to support the investigation and to believe that justice must be done.

There is also a strong feeling of sadness. The text talks about how Swalwell's actions hurt real people, including a former staffer who said he raped her. The sadness builds sympathy for the victims and makes readers care about their pain. The emotion serves to remind readers that behind every headline are real people who suffered. A sense of betrayal appears too. Swalwell was once trusted as a public leader, and now he is accused of terrible things. This betrayal makes readers feel let down and confused. The emotion helps explain why people are so upset, because they once believed in him and now feel fooled.

These emotions guide the reader's reaction by making the problem feel real and urgent. Fear makes people pay close attention and worry about safety and trust in government. Anger pushes readers to support the investigation and demand accountability. Sadness builds sympathy for the victims and makes the harm feel personal. Betrayal makes readers question how leaders are chosen and how trust can be broken. Together, these feelings push readers to agree that Swalwell's actions were wrong and that the justice system must act.

The writer uses emotional language to make the situation feel more real and serious. The repeated mention of "rape" and "sexual assault" makes the crimes sound worse than just saying "bad behavior." The writer also repeats that Swalwell "denied all allegations," which makes readers feel like he is not telling the truth. The text compares Swalwell to a trusted leader who fell from grace, which makes the story feel like a tragedy. It also makes the future sound certain by saying the investigation is ongoing, even though nothing has been proven yet. These tools make the message more emotional and help steer the reader toward believing that Swalwell did something very wrong and that justice must be served. The overall effect is to present Swalwell not just as a politician, but as someone who betrayed the trust of the people he once served, making his story feel both shocking and deeply troubling.

(Update/use as neccessary)