FBI Raids Mansion Linked To Eric Swalwell, Ex-Gubernatorial Candidate Accused Of Sex Crimes

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — FBI agents raided a Beverly Hills mansion Tuesday morning as part of an investigation into former Rep. Eric Swalwell.

Agents searched the home of wealthy developer and Swalwell donor Stephen Cloobeck, where the ex-Congressman spent time before resigning from office in April, two people familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press.

The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation.

Tuesday’s search is the latest escalation in the federal investigation of Swalwell — one of several probes begun after a woman came forward with allegations that he sexually assaulted her twice, including when she worked for him.

The San Francisco Chronicle, followed by CNN, first reported the allegations. CNN also reported that three other women alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by Swalwell, including sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.

Around the same time, another woman came forward with allegations that Swalwell raped her at a Southern California hotel in 2018. She said she had one glass of wine and believes that Swalwell drugged her. She said she planned to make a report to law enforcement.

The agents served a search warrant at the home, located on North Roxbury Drive, near Benedict Canyon Drive, at around 7 a.m., ABC 7 reported.

“We are executing a search warrant. Court documents are sealed. No arrests are planned,” an FBI spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times.

Swalwell stayed at the mansion several times while campaigning for governor and used the property for political events. He also filmed a video there denying sexual assault allegations shortly before withdrawing from the race, according to the Times.

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Cloobeck, the founder of Diamond Resorts International, contributed more than $23,000 to Swalwell's congressional campaigns since 2017, according to federal campaign finance records reviewed by the AP.

Cloobeck later publicly distanced himself from Swalwell as allegations of sexual misconduct mounted.

He told the New York Post in April that he cut ties with Swalwell as accusations against him mounted.

"I am no longer associated with a man that takes advantage of women,” Cloobeck told the newspaper. “I support women’s rights.”

The search comes months after federal agents seized electronic devices from Swalwell at San Francisco International Airport in August and searched his Washington, D.C., home.

Agents also searched Swalwell's home in Dublin as part of a federal civil rights investigation involving the sexual assault allegations, according to the Times.

Swalwell resigned from Congress and abandoned his campaign for California governor in April after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and other sexual misconduct.

The former congressman has denied criminal wrongdoing and the allegations against him.

Swalwell is also the subject of separate investigations in New York and Los Angeles County. Last month, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department referred its investigation into the allegations that Swalwell sexually assaulted a woman at a West Hollywood hotel in 2018 to county prosecutors for a charging decision, the Times reported.

A spokesperson for Swalwell declined to comment on Tuesday's search, according to the Times.

Cloobeck is facing criminal charges of his own in a case involving his former fiancée, model and social media personality Adva Lavie, who is accused of stealing cash and luxury items from people she met through dating apps.

Authorities have not disclosed what evidence agents were seeking at the Beverly Hills mansion.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.