FBI agents searched a Beverly Hills mansion in California as part of an investigation involving former Congressman Eric Swalwell, 45.
The early-morning operation was carried out at the home of billionaire megadonor Stephen Cloobeck, according to a law enforcement source who spoke to Our News Outlet. Cloobeck has been contacted for comment.
Swalwell is the subject of a criminal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations being pursued by President Donald Trump’s Justice Department. He has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.
Two sources said the Los Angeles-area raid is linked to allegations involving possible sex trafficking.
The search represents a significant escalation in the federal investigation. It comes roughly two months after agents presented Swalwell with a search warrant when he arrived at San Francisco International Airport.
Federal agents seized electronic devices, including his cellphone, during the probe, as Our News Outlet first reported.
A warrant obtained by The San Francisco Standard states that agents also took Swalwell’s MacBook Pro, its charging cable and a wall charger.
The warrant, filed August 13, cited Section 242 of Title 18, a federal law that bars officials—including law enforcement officers—from abusing their authority to deprive a person of constitutional rights. It remains unclear how the statute relates to the investigation involving Swalwell.
Armed with additional court-approved warrants, agents entered Swalwell’s Washington, DC, home that weekend and seized further potential evidence, according to well-placed sources who spoke to Our News Outlet. The nature of that evidence has not been disclosed.
Sources said the former representative continues to maintain a residence in Washington with his wife and their three children.
A law enforcement source said FBI agents carried out an early-morning search at the Beverly Hills mansion of billionaire megadonor Stephen Cloobeck for Our News Outlet
Two sources said the Los Angeles raid is connected to allegations of possible sex trafficking
Stephen Cloobeck, who owns the mansion, has been contacted by Our News Outlet for comment
The raid took place about two months after agents confronted Swalwell with a search warrant at San Francisco Airport
Swalwell traveled to the airport later that day and flew to California, his home state. Federal agents were waiting when he stepped off the plane.
Sources said Swalwell cooperated with the agents. The next day, neither he nor his wife, Brittany Watts, was at their Northeast DC property when federal agents arrived.
Swalwell, 45, has faced multiple sexual assault allegations, all of which he has emphatically denied.
At least four women have made sexual misconduct allegations. One former staffer alleged that the married politician raped her twice, claiming she was too intoxicated to consent during incidents in 2019 and 2024.
Another woman alleged that Swalwell drugged and raped her in 2018.
Two women also alleged that he sent them unsolicited images of his penis. The Department of Justice opened its investigation into the former congressman in April.
Swalwell was also being investigated by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
He has vehemently denied the allegation, but they nevertheless torpedoed his campaign for California governor, forcing him to drop out of a race he’d once led.
Agents were seen on the property early on Tuesday morning
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Another shot of FBI agents roaming the million-dollar mansion in Beverly Hills
Video of FBI agents descending on Eric Swalwell’s DC home on Sunday, August 16
The Democrat also promptly resigned from Congress in disgrace earlier this year.
He has kept a low profile ever since.
In August, newly declassified records detailed his alleged escapades with the Chinese spy known as ‘Fang Fang.’
The White House Transparency Task Force dropped the documents, in which Swalwell admitted to the FBI that he ‘occasionally hooked up’ with Fang.
The Chinese national spent years cozying up to rising California Democrats, helping bundle donations for Swalwell’s 2014 re-election campaign and even placing an intern in his congressional office.
Swalwell with the Chinese spy known as ‘Fang Fang’
Lonna Drewes accused former Congressman Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, of sexually assaulting her. He has denied the accusation
Swalwell has not been accused by law enforcement of any wrongdoing in the Fang Fang scandal.
Meanwhile, he has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the sexual assault and sexual misconduct allegations.
While rejecting the claims, the former lawmaker acknowledged making ‘mistakes in judgment’ and apologized to his wife.
While the accusations destroyed his political career and prompted calls for further investigations from both parties, the state of his nine-year marriage remains in question.
Exclusive Our News Outlet photos from May showed Watts, 41, stepping out of their DC residence without her wedding ring as her husband remained out of sight.
‘Eric has been accused of horrible things. How do you live with that?’ a friend of the family said at the time.
Sources say neither he nor his wife, Brittany Watts, were home when the feds rolled up to their property in Northeast DC over the summer
Brittany Swalwell was seen trying to keep a low-profile while given a clear view of her ringless finger in May
The allegations began with claims from a former staffer who alleged she was raped by Swalwell when she was too intoxicated to consent.
She told CNN that in April 2024, after a night of heavy drinking in New York City, she woke up to Swalwell having sex with her in his hotel bed.
‘I was pushing him off of me, saying no,’ she said, adding that it happened after she stopped working in his office. ‘He didn’t stop.’
He has denied those accusations.
Our News Outlet has reached out to a representative for Eric Swalwell. The Department of Justice and the FBI declined to comment.
