The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) has initiated an investigation into Eric Swalwell following his departure from Congress, according to a knowledgeable source.
This announcement of a federal inquiry comes shortly after the California Democratic representative resigned amid several accusations of sexual misconduct.
The DoJ has not issued any public statements regarding the ongoing investigation.
Swalwell, who served seven terms in Congress, was seen as a leading candidate to succeed Gavin Newsom as the governor of California. However, he became embroiled in controversy that led him to halt his gubernatorial campaign and resign from Congress. This decision followed a report by the San Francisco Chronicle detailing allegations from an unnamed former staff member who accused him of sexually assaulting her on two separate occasions. CNN also reported similar allegations, including claims from three additional women who stated that Swalwell had sent them unsolicited sexual messages.
On the day after Swalwell’s resignation, Lonna Drewes, another individual alleging misconduct, publicly accused him of drugging and raping her in 2018. At a press conference in Beverly Hills, Drewes described a harrowing encounter in which Swalwell allegedly choked her until she “lost consciousness,” fearing she might have “died.”
Sara Azari, an attorney representing Swalwell, asserted earlier this week that he “categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him.”
Azari did not provide a comment when asked about the DoJ investigation on Thursday.
The Los Angeles County sheriff’s office has stated that it is looking into the 2018 allegations, while the district attorney’s office in Los Angeles confirmed that its sex crimes division is collaborating with law enforcement on the case. Additionally, the Manhattan district attorney’s office announced over the weekend that it is also investigating a sexual assault claim against Swalwell.
Elected to Congress in 2012, Swalwell was facing the possibility of expulsion when he announced his resignation, expressing regret in a statement: “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past … I will fight the serious false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”
The woman who spoke to the Chronicle recounted that Swalwell began to pursue her shortly after she was hired in 2019, when she was just 21 years old. She alleged that he sexually assaulted her twice while she was too intoxicated to give consent.
