Federal agents have raided a Beverly Hills mansion in connection with the widening criminal investigation into disgraced former California congressman and gubernatorial hopeful Eric Swalwell, in a probe that sources say now reaches into the world of high-end sex work.
According to the New York Post, the FBI operation is believed to have targeted the residence of billionaire hotel magnate Stephen Cloobeck, a prominent Democratic donor who had been one of Swalwells most generous backers. Cloobeck not only poured money into Swalwells failed bid for governor but also allowed the Democrat to live for extended periods at his Southern California estate.
That arrangement abruptly ended when multiple women, including former staffers, came forward accusing Swalwell of sexual assault, prompting Cloobeck to sever ties. The billionaire, who had once opened his mansion and his checkbook to the rising Democrat, made clear he wanted no further association with the scandal-plagued politician.
I am no longer associated with a man that takes advantage of women, Cloobeck said, distancing himself from the former congressman as the allegations mounted. I support womens rights.
Swalwell is now under investigation by multiple prosecutors on both coasts, with active inquiries underway in New York and California into the sexual assault claims. The involvement of federal authorities underscores the seriousness of the case and raises questions about whether a once-protected political insider is finally facing real accountability.
In August, the investigation burst into public view when FBI agents confronted Swalwell at San Francisco International Airport as he stepped off a flight. Agents seized his cellphone and laptop under a federal warrant, an extraordinary move against a former member of Congress that signaled a significant escalation in the probe.
The following day, agents executed additional search warrants at Swalwells Washington, D.C., residence, where they collected more potential evidence, a source previously told The Post. Such coordinated searches suggest investigators are pursuing a broad pattern of alleged misconduct rather than a single isolated incident.
The warrant authorizing the seizure of Swalwells devices cited a federal civil-rights statute often used to prosecute public officials who abuse their authority. That detail strongly indicates federal prosecutors may suspect Swalwell used his official position to intimidate or silence women who accused him of sexual misconduct, a particularly troubling allegation for someone entrusted with public power.
One former staffer has accused Swalwell of raping her when she was too intoxicated to consent, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Another woman alleges he drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2018, while two additional accusers say he sent them unsolicited images of his genitals.
Swalwell has denied any wrongdoing, but his political career collapsed almost overnight once the accusations became public. He quickly abandoned his gubernatorial campaign and resigned from Congress, a dramatic fall for a Democrat who had been a frequent media presence and a reliable attack dog against conservatives.
Cloobeck had been central to Swalwells rise, spending more than $1 million to bolster the Democrats California gubernatorial ambitions. He provided the maximum $39,200 direct contribution, financed a private $31,000 trip to France in 2024, and repeatedly opened his Beverly Hills mansion to the politician.
Swalwell not only stayed at the estate but also used it as a backdrop for damage control, even filming a video response to the misconduct allegations from inside Cloobecks home. Cloobeck himself had once flirted with a gubernatorial run before stepping aside to clear the path for Swalwell, underscoring how deeply invested he was in the Democrats political future.
The billionaire benefactor, however, has faced his own legal and personal turmoil, including a high-profile relationship with a Penthouse Pet accused of targeting wealthy sugar daddies, a wedding he ultimately called off. Cloobeck was later charged with three felony counts of attempting to dissuade or prevent a witness or victim from testifying, along with one misdemeanor count of making annoying phone calls, all tied to the criminal case of his ex-partner, Adva Lavie, who is accused of using dating apps to steal from affluent older men.
For many Americans already skeptical of the political class, the Swalwell saga reinforces long-standing concerns about moral rot and entitlement among powerful Democrats who present themselves as champions of womens rights while allegedly exploiting women behind closed doors. As the FBI and local prosecutors continue their work, the case is shaping up as a test of whether a well-connected liberal figure, long shielded by friendly media and donors, will finally be held to the same legal and ethical standards expected of ordinary citizens.
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