The Footage Revealed
New video shows a dramatic scene at San Francisco International Airport. Former Congressman Eric Swalwell stepped off a plane on Aug 15. He was wearing a hat and a black sweatshirt. Travelers walked past him as he pulled a roll bag.
Six FBI agents surrounded him right at the gate. They spoke with him briefly before moving him up an escalator. The group walked him into a hallway marked as a restricted area. This was the first time the public saw this specific stop.
The California Post obtained the surveillance tape that captures the entire event. Before this, the stop was only described in secret court papers. Now, the world can see exactly how the agents moved in on him.
The Warrant and Seizure
Agents served Swalwell with a search warrant. They took his white Apple iPhone and its charger. They also seized his MacBook Pro laptop. A copy of the warrant plus an inventory of removed items was left with him by the FBI.
RedState‘s reported that the warrant was issued under 18 U.S.C. § 242. This is a federal civil-rights statute. It is often used against law-enforcement officers who abuse their authority. An FBI agent from the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Squad signed off on it.
The video does not show agents arresting him. He was allowed to leave the airport after the search. But the trouble did not end there. The next morning, agents searched his home in Washington, D.C. They took more material as part of the federal inquiry.
The Underlying Allegations
The investigation ties into multiple sexual-assault allegations. Several women came forward earlier this year. One former staffer accused him of rape while she was too drunk to consent. Another woman claimed he drugged and assaulted her in 2018.
Two additional women claimed he transmitted unsolicited pictures of his genitals to them. The Department of Justice opened this investigation back in April. Swalwell has denied all the accusations. He resigned his House seat after these claims surfaced.
Officials in New York and California are investigating associated allegations as well.
