The FBI has conducted a raid on a mansion in California as part of an investigation into former Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell. This operation took place on Tuesday morning at the residence of billionaire Stephen Cloobeck, who had notably supported Swalwell’s unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in California earlier this year.
Following reports surfaced in April detailing allegations of sexual assault and other misconduct against Swalwell, including accusations from a staff member, Cloobeck and other supporters decided to withdraw their backing for him. Cloobeck also evicted Swalwell from a property in Beverly Hills where he had previously allowed the congressman to stay, initially out of concern for his mental health during this troubling period.
Expressing dismay over the serious nature of the allegations against Swalwell, Cloobeck announced he would reclaim around $1 million he had contributed to Swalwell’s campaign and publicly declared his shift away from the Democratic Party, announcing his new identification as a Libertarian.
“F***ing tell everyone I’m a Libertarian. F*** you, Democrat Party. I’m a Libertarian now,” he said in an interview. “I am no longer associated with a man that takes advantage of women. I support women’s rights.”
The day prior to news about the eviction, Swalwell, aged 45, exited the race for governor and resigned from Congress, while still asserting his innocence regarding the allegations.
“These allegations of sexual assault are flat false…They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have,” he stated in a video released on social media.
Swalwell was known to frequent the mansion at 1014 North Roxbury Drive, even recording a video response to the allegations while there. This raid follows another FBI operation at Swalwell’s Washington, D.C. home in August, part of the ongoing federal investigation into the sexual misconduct claims. On that day, agents also approached him at the San Francisco International Airport, where they confiscated his cellphone and laptop. Reports indicated he was briefly detained during the execution of a search warrant but was released on the same day.
