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FBI searches Beverly Hills home of a donor to ex-congressman Eric Swalwell

Swalwell, who resigned from Congress in April amid sexual misconduct allegations, denies wrongdoing and has not been charged. The FBI would not comment further.

11 news outlets reported this
Liberal3 outletsCenter4 outletsConservative4 outlets
Published 3 min read
Overview

Federal agents searched a mansion in Beverly Hills, California, early on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Outlets tie the search to the investigation of former Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat who resigned from in April amid sexual misconduct allegations. The home is linked to Stephen Cloobeck, a wealthy developer and Swalwell donor.

An spokesperson confirmed an operation in the Los Angeles area tied to an ongoing criminal probe and declined further comment. Cloobeck's attorneys said he was not home and has faith in the judicial process. In April, Cloobeck told the New York Post he had cut ties with Swalwell.

In August, agents took Swalwell's electronic devices at San Francisco's airport and searched his Washington home. The Manhattan 's office and Los Angeles authorities are also investigating. Swalwell denies wrongdoing and has not been charged.

According to Fox News, the raid was linked to a sex worker. The Daily Wire attributes that to senior law enforcement speaking to the New York Post. Outlets also differ on when the White House released declassified FBI records about Swalwell's past relationship with a suspected Chinese spy.

Three sides of the story

Liberal3 outlets

The Guardian and The Independent publish the same Associated Press report, which rests on three anonymous sources, one of them a law enforcement official. It calls Cloobeck a wealthy developer and Swalwell donor and quotes his April remark that he is "no longer associated with a man that takes advantage of women." The report presents the search as the newest step in a federal inquiry and lists the other probes, including the Manhattan district attorney's office and Los Angeles prosecutors said to be weighing charges.

It adds background on Swalwell as one of Trump's top antagonists in Congress. It also covers his past contact with suspected Chinese spy Christine Fang, noting he was not accused of wrongdoing and that a House ethics inquiry ended without action. ABC News runs a shorter, developing report: a court-authorized warrant, the FBI statement, and sources saying Swalwell stayed at the home for a time.

Neither report mentions a sex worker.

Center4 outlets

Straight Arrow News, citing CNN and Fox News, reports the search and recounts the allegations at length, including a former staffer's account of assault and a press conference by an accuser. It also covers the declassified Fang documents. BBC News includes the denial from Swalwell's attorney, Sara Azari, who called the accusations "a calculated and transparent political hit job."

It also carries a statement from Cloobeck's attorneys. BBC describes the Fang records as coming from a separate, unrelated FBI matter whose details were largely already known. UPI centers on Cloobeck: the mansion was used for events backing Swalwell's campaign, he was arrested in May on witness-dissuasion charges tied to his fiancée's case, and an FBI spokesperson said no arrests were planned at the search.

Straight Arrow, BBC and UPI do not mention a sex worker.

Conservative4 outlets

Fox News, the Daily Wire and the Daily Caller each call Swalwell "disgraced" and report the raid in more operational detail. Fox says it learned of the raid itself. It reports at least two dozen agents at about 6 a.m., several people handcuffed and later released, and a link to a sex worker.

The Daily Wire attributes that link to senior law enforcement speaking to the New York Post. It also details Cloobeck's spending on Swalwell, including more than $1 million in support, and his own case. Fox and the Daily Wire give extended space to the White House's declassified FBI records on Swalwell's relationship with Fang.

The Daily Caller cites a law enforcement source, reports at least six accusers, and links to a story about a inquiry involving an alleged Brazilian nanny. All three report that Swalwell denies the allegations.

Where outlets disagree
  • When the White House released declassified FBI records on Swalwell's relationship with Christine Fang
    • BBC News: The White House declassified the documents in August.
    • The Daily Wire: The White House released the records in August.
    • Fox News: The records were released Monday by the White House, the day before the search.
All sources: 12 articles from 11 outlets

Liberal (3)

Center (4)

Conservative (5)

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Congress

The US parliament: the Senate and the House of Representatives. A bill becomes law when both pass it and the president signs it.

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FBI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation: the main federal police and counterintelligence agency, part of the Justice Department.

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District attorney and US attorney

A district attorney is the local prosecutor, usually elected, who brings charges under state law. A US attorney is the federal prosecutor for a district, appointed by the president, who brings federal charges.

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Felony and misdemeanor

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DHS (Department of Homeland Security)

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