Searched, Not Charged: What the FBI Search Tied to Eric Swalwell Means
FBI agents searched a billionaire donor's Beverly Hills home in the federal inquiry tied to Eric Swalwell. What a search warrant on someone else's property means, how target, subject and witness differ, and what comes next.
October 30, 2026 · 3 min read
By Jocelyn C. Stewart
FBI agents searched a Beverly Hills mansion on Tuesday in an investigation tied to former Rep. Eric Swalwell. The house does not belong to Swalwell. It belongs to a billionaire who once backed him. No one was arrested, and the warrant is sealed. Here is what a search like this does and does not mean.
The search. Agents executed a search warrant Tuesday morning at the home of businessman Stephen Cloobeck, according to ABC7 Los Angeles, NBC Los Angeles and FOX 11 Los Angeles. ABC7 and FOX 11 tie the warrant to the Swalwell inquiry. NBC Los Angeles, citing two law enforcement sources, reports the same link. It also says it was unclear whether the warrant concerned Swalwell, a separate criminal case involving Cloobeck's former fiancée, or both.
The response. Cloobeck was not home. His lawyers said he "continues to have faith in the judicial process," ABC7 and FOX 11 report. All three outlets say the warrant materials are sealed.
The background. Swalwell ended his run for California governor and resigned from Congress this year after several women accused him of sexual misconduct. He denies the allegations, the same reports say. They add that in August agents seized his electronic devices at San Francisco International Airport and searched his Washington home. None of these reports describes a criminal charge against him. The allegations are unproven.
Why a search is not a charge. A warrant means a judge found probable cause to believe evidence was in a particular place. It is a tool for gathering evidence. It is not a finding that the owner, or anyone else, did anything.
Facts about Swalwell and Cloobeck in this post come from at least two of the outlets named, unless one outlet is credited.
Her law firm's website explains what to do if you are facing a military investigation, including the steps to take before any charge is filed.