The Justice Department has opened an investigation into former Rep. Eric Swalwell over sexual assault allegations, a source familiar with the matter told the New York Post.
Prosecutors in New York and detectives in Los Angeles had already begun scrutinizing the California Democrat before the federal probe was announced. At least five women have now accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including at least two allegations of rape.
Swalwell denied criminal wrongdoing but acknowledged “mistakes in judgment” before ending his California gubernatorial campaign Sunday night and resigning from the House of Representatives Tuesday. He had been the Democratic front-runner in the state’s June gubernatorial primary before the allegations surfaced last week.
DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Thursday that she had opened a hotline for anyone with information about “alleged sexual or inappropriate conduct in DC” by Swalwell.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media Monday that the bureau “would welcome” Swalwell to speak with agents. “We also encourage and welcome any person with relevant information to any of these matters to speak with us,” Patel wrote. “Door is open to all.”
One accuser alleged Swalwell sexually assaulted her at the Times Square Edition hotel in New York in April 2024. The woman, who has not been publicly identified, told CNN she woke up in her hotel room after a charity gala to find Swalwell assaulting her while she was heavily intoxicated. “I was pushing him off of me, saying no,” she said. “He didn’t stop.”
The most recent accuser, model Lonna Drewes, 50, said Swalwell drugged, raped and choked her during a 2018 encounter in West Hollywood. Swalwell’s wife was pregnant at the time.
