The Justice Department has opened an investigation into former House representative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat who had also been running for California governor, over allegations of sexual misconduct, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The nature of the department’s investigation into Swalwell is not immediately clear, but it comes as several women have come forward over the past week, accusing the California Democrat of sexual assault or other forms of misconduct, prompting scrutiny at both the federal and local levels. Prosecutors in Los Angeles and Manhattan have also launched separate investigations into the allegations.
Following the recent string of allegations, including a claim that he allegedly drugged and raped one woman and sexually assaulted one of his staff members, Swalwell suspended his campaign for California governor on Friday.
Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing and has pushed back forcefully against the claims. When asked whether his attorney Sara Azari had a statement, she told the Washington Examiner that “we have no comment at this time.”
The confirmation of a DOJ investigation comes one day after U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro opened up a tip line for any possible victims of sexual assault to place a report about the former congressman, who resigned from Congress earlier this week under bipartisan pressure.
Swalwell has said he intends to “fight the serious, false allegations made against me” but has acknowledged “I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make,” without elaborating as to which mistakes in particular.
In Manhattan, District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, is investigating the former congressman after he was accused of having sex with an ex-staffer in his hotel bed while she was too intoxicated to give consent. The alleged incident took place in April 2024 in New York City after she had already stopped working for his office.
A separate criminal inquiry is underway in Los Angeles after a former model and fashion software company owner, Lonna Drewes, came forward with the drugging and rape accusations. That investigation was led by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Swalwell’s troubles may also extend beyond the sexual misconduct allegations. A recent report filed with the Federal Election Commission related to his former House campaign showed he spent more than $2,500 on child care in the first three months of the year, NOTUS first reported on Wednesday.
Steve Roberts, an attorney at the conservative law firm Lex Politica, told the Washington Examiner on Thursday that “it appears that the campaign paid for significant childcare expenses, including for the week Swalwell appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live to announce his gubernatorial bid.”
“If Eric Swalwell was campaigning for governor instead of his congressional seat while using his federal campaign to pay childcare expenses, he and his campaign could be on the hook for hefty financial penalties,” Roberts added.
Swalwell first became a member of the House of Representatives in 2013.
BOEBERT WORKING ON BILL TO STRIP SWALWELL OF $22,000 ANNUAL TAXPAYER-FUNDED PENSION
In 2020, he also took heat from Republicans after it was revealed that he was engaged in a romantic relationship with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, Christine Fang or “Fang Fang,” who reportedly cultivated ties with various Bay Area politicians between 2011 and 2015.
Earlier this week, FBI Director Kash Patel extended an offer for Swalwell to sit down with the bureau to “share any information he has,” amid previous reports that the director was floating the possibility of releasing files related to his past associations with Fang Fang.
