Aisha WahabChristine FangDonald TrumpMelissa HernandezEric SwalwellDemocratic PartyHouse Ethics CommitteeAmerican Israel Public Affairs CommitteeFederal Bureau of InvestigationWhite HouseAl JazeeraHouse Intelligence Committee

FBI raids ex-US Representative Swalwell's home amid sexual misconduct probe; race for his open seat tight as Aisha Wahab leads by about 300 votes

The FBI has raided the home of former US Representative Eric Swalwell amid a sexual misconduct investigation, seizing his electronic devices. This comes as Aisha Wahab leads the race for Swalwell's open congressional seat by approximately 300 votes over Melissa Hernandez, following a surge in late campaign spending.

Al Jazeera Al Jazeera20 August 2026 · 19:04 UTC
CuriousCats Full Story

The FBI has raided the Washington, DC, home of former US Representative Eric Swalwell amid an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct. The raid included the seizure of Swalwell's electronic devices at San Francisco airport over the weekend, as reported by multiple sources.

One woman has publicly accused Swalwell of sexual assault during his time in office, while four others have alleged various forms of sexual misconduct. This investigation follows Swalwell's resignation from Congress in April, where he was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party and a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump.

Swalwell also faced scrutiny for a past relationship with Christine Fang, a woman believed by US authorities to be a Chinese spy. He was removed from the House Intelligence Committee in 2023 due to concerns over this relationship, which he claimed to have ended after being alerted by federal agents. A House Ethics Committee investigation was closed with no action taken against him.

The latest FBI raid coincides with a closely contested election for Swalwell's open congressional seat. As of Thursday, Aisha Wahab led by about 300 votes over fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez, who experienced a surge in late campaign spending from the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Key Insight
“The FBI declined to comment on the raid, which comes as the House Ethics Committee closed its investigation with no action. The White House released FBI documents this week related to Swalwell's relationship with Fang, and his lawyer called the release 'meant to punish an outspoken critic of the current administration.'”
FBI searches Eric Swalwell's home and seizes his electronic devices
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FBI searches Eric Swalwell's home and seizes his electronic devices
FBI seizes Eric Swalwell's electronic devices in sexual misconduct investigation
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FBI seizes Eric Swalwell's electronic devices in sexual misconduct investigation
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“Federal agents have raided the Washington, DC, home of former US Representative Eric Swalwell amid an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct, according to US media.”
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FBI seizes former Congressman Eric Swalwell's devices, executes search warrants in sexual misconduct probe; warrants hit airport and DC home over weekend
BBCBBC
FBI seizes former Congressman Eric Swalwell's devices, executes search warrants in sexual misconduct probe; warrants hit airport and DC home over weekend

The FBI stopped former US Congressman Eric Swalwell at an airport, seized his electronic devices, and raided his home in Washington DC as part of a federal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations.

Airport SeizureCbs NewsCriminal Probe
2026-08-20
TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
  • FBI agents executed search warrants over the weekend, seizing Swalwell's electronic devices at an airport and searching his home in Washington, D.C., as part of a federal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against him.
  • Allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced earlier this year, leading Swalwell to drop out of the California governor's race, where he was in the lead, and resign from Congress.
  • The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into Swalwell, which ended upon his resignation from Congress, as the committee only has jurisdiction over current members.
  • On Monday, the White House released declassified documents from a separate FBI investigation revealing details of Swalwell's alleged relationship with a suspected spy from China over a decade ago.
  • Swalwell is under criminal investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and Los Angeles Sheriff's Department for accusations of rape and sexual assault.
  • Swalwell has denied the allegations, with his attorney calling them 'fabricated' and a 'calculated and transparent political hit job.'
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