Former Rep. Eric Swalwell was surrounded by FBI agents at San Francisco International Airport as he deboarded a plane, leading to the seizure of his cellphone and laptop as part of a federal criminal investigation, newly obtained video shows.
The California Post exclusively obtained surveillance footage of the Aug. 15 encounter, providing the first look at the dramatic airport search that unfolded after Swalwell arrived in California.
The footage shows Swalwell — dressed incognito in a hat, black sweatshirt and sneakers — speaking with several agents at his flight gate as travelers pass nearby. The former Democratic congressman appears calm and cooperative throughout the encounter.
Video footage of the encounter then shows Swalwell, wearing a backpack and dragging a rollbag, being escorted throughout San Francisco’s airport. He’s taken up an escalator and eventually arrives in a hallway with a sign that says “restricted area.” He then enters a room with multiple people.
Agents served Swalwell with a search warrant at about 8:25 p.m. and seized a white Apple iPhone, its charging cable and wall adapter, and an Apple MacBook Pro, according to an inventory filed with the warrant.
Swalwell’s long walk also included a ride up an escalator.
The FBI left Swalwell with a copy of the warrant and an inventory of the property taken, records show.
The video does not show agents placing Swalwell under arrest, and he was reportedly allowed to leave after the search.
Agents executed additional warrants the following day at Swalwell’s Washington, D.C., home, where they seized other potential evidence, a source previously told The Post.
The FBI warrant used to seize Swalwell’s phone and laptop cited a federal civil-rights statute that can be used to prosecute public officials who abuse their government power — suggesting the feds may suspect Swalwell used his official role to silence women who accused him of sexual misconduct.
One former staffer has accused Swalwell of raping her when she was too intoxicated to consent, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Another woman has accused him of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2018, while two others have alleged he sent them unsolicited images of his genitals.
Swalwell has denied wrongdoing.
