Eric Swalwell's fall over sexual assault allegations

In March 2026 Swalwell's lawyers demanded that FBI Director Kash Patel end any effort to release records from a decade-old investigation involving him and a suspected Chinese operative.^[6] In early April his campaign sought to rebut social media claims that women would come forward,^[7] and on April 10 CNN reported a former staffer's allegation; the Manhattan District Attorney's office said it was investigating.^[1] His campaign collapsed as staffers quit and Democrats urged him to leave,^[2] the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation,^[8] and he announced he would resign.^[3]

Gov. Gavin Newsom set an August 18 special election for his seat,^[9] which state lawmaker Aisha Wahab won.^[10] That month federal agents intercepted Swalwell at San Francisco's airport, seized his electronic devices and raided his home in Washington,^[4][11] and the declassified FBI documents were released.^[5] In October agents raided a mansion in Southern California as the investigation continued.^[12]