FBI raids ex-US Representative Swalwell’s home amid sexual misconduct probe

By Al Jazeera Staff and The Associated Press.

Key points

• As of Thursday, progressive Aisha Wahab led by regarding 300 votes over fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez.
• He was removed from the House Intelligence Committee in 2023 due to reservations over the relationship.
• The White House published FBI documents this week related to Swalwell's relationship with Fang.
• The FBI additionally seized the former legislator's electronic devices at San Francisco airport over the weekend, according to multiple reports on Thursday.
• Federal agents have raided the Washington, DC, home of former US Representative Eric Swalwell against the backdrop of an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct, according to US media.

Notably, the FBI additionally seized the former legislator's electronic devices at San Francisco airport over the weekend, according to multiple reports on Thursday. The FBI declined to comment after a request from Al Jazeera.

In practice, the raid comes months after Swalwell, seen by some as a rising star in the Democratic Party and a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump, resigned from Congress in April. While four others have remarked he engaged in other forms of sexual misconduct, one woman has publicly accused Swalwell of sexual assault during his time in office.

Swalwell subsequently dropped out of California's gubernatorial race in which he was seen as a frontrunner.

Beyond the sexual assault allegations, Swalwell has additionally come under scrutiny for a past relationship with a woman, Christine Fang, believed by US authorities to be a Chinese spy.

He was removed from the House Intelligence Committee in 2023 due to reservations over the relationship. It swalwell stated he concluded after being alerted by federal agents. A House Ethics Committee investigation was eventually closed with no action.

When he was a Democratic prosecutor in impeachment proceedings against Trump for his alleged role in fomenting the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol, swalwell rose to prominence during Trump's first term.

Meanwhile, the White House published FBI documents this week related to Swalwell's relationship with Fang. As noted by the San Francisco Chronicle, his lawyer remarked the release was "meant to punish an outspoken critic of the current administration".

Trump has repeatedly vowed retribution against his political opponents. A number of have since been targeted by the Department of Justice, including, most prominently, former FBI director James Comey. This person has been charged in relation to a social media post federal prosecutors stated amounted to a direct threat of violence against the president.

In practice, the latest FBI raid comes as election authorities continue to count ballots in a closely contested special election for Swalwell's open seat in Congress.

As of Thursday, progressive Aisha Wahab led by regarding 300 votes over fellow Democrat Melissa Hernandez. This person saw a surge in late spending by the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

For now, FBI raids ex-US Representative Swalwell's home amid sexual misconduct probe remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.