And the billionaire whose property was searched has his own complicated history with the former congressman. Reuters+1
FBI Agents Descend on Beverly Hills Estate
Federal investigators arrived at Cloobeck’s property on North Roxbury Drive early Tuesday morning, executing a court-authorized search warrant connected to the ongoing Swalwell investigation.
The operation brought federal agents and law enforcement vehicles to one of Southern California’s most exclusive residential neighborhoods.
Authorities confirmed the search but offered few details about what investigators hoped to uncover.
FBI spokesperson Lourdes Arocho told reporters:
“Early this morning the FBI conducted an operation in the Los Angeles region related to an ongoing criminal investigation. We have no further comment.”
Court documents supporting the warrant remain sealed, leaving important questions unanswered about the evidence investigators were seeking.
According to Reuters, agents were looking for electronic devices and records related to prostitution. The report cited a senior law enforcement official familiar with the investigation.
Cloobeck was reportedly away from the property when agents arrived, and authorities reported no arrests during the operation.
The search itself does not establish criminal wrongdoing by Cloobeck or Swalwell. Reuters+2
A Political Alliance That Collapsed Almost Overnight
The connection between Swalwell and Cloobeck extends well beyond ordinary campaign donations.
Cloobeck, who built his fortune in the timeshare industry, previously entered California’s crowded gubernatorial contest before abandoning his own campaign and supporting Swalwell.
He subsequently provided more than $1 million in financial support to outside political efforts backing the Democratic congressman’s bid for governor.
Their relationship was close enough that Swalwell reportedly stayed at Cloobeck’s Beverly Hills residence and used the property for political activities.
But that alliance unraveled in April when multiple women publicly accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct.
Cloobeck quickly distanced himself from the congressman.
“I am no longer associated with a man that takes advantage of women,” Cloobeck told the New York Post at the time. “I support women’s rights.”
The billionaire also reportedly demanded the return of money he had contributed toward supporting Swalwell’s political future.
Now, months after that public falling-out, the same residence where Swalwell once spent time has become the subject of a federal search. Los Angeles Times+2
Sexual Misconduct Allegations Ended Swalwell’s Political Career
Swalwell’s departure from Congress followed a series of allegations that emerged in April.
Multiple women accused the former California representative of inappropriate sexual conduct, ranging from unsolicited explicit communications to sexual assault.
Among the accusers was Lonna Drewes, who publicly alleged that Swalwell assaulted her at a Southern California hotel in 2018.
During an April press conference, Drewes described the alleged encounter in disturbing terms.
“He raped me and he choked me,” Drewes said at an April press conference. “While he was choking me, I lost consciousness. I thought I died.”
Those statements represent allegations, not findings by a court.
Swalwell has denied the accusations against him.
Nevertheless, the controversy rapidly consumed his political career.
He abandoned his campaign for California governor and resigned from the House of Representatives, ending more than a decade representing his East Bay congressional district.
Law enforcement agencies subsequently began examining the accusations.
Authorities in New York have investigated allegations involving a former staffer, while Los Angeles County prosecutors have reviewed potential criminal charges connected to other complaints.
As of the October 27 search, Swalwell had not been criminally charged in connection with the allegations. FOX 11 Los Angeles+2
Investigators Previously Seized Swalwell’s Electronic Devices
The Beverly Hills operation follows another major development in the investigation.
In August, federal agents approached Swalwell at San Francisco International Airport and served a warrant authorizing the seizure of electronic devices.
Investigators obtained his phone and other equipment.
Agents also searched his Washington, D.C., residence as part of the same broader investigation.
The earlier warrants reportedly referenced potential violations of federal civil rights laws.
Publicly available court documents confirmed that investigators seized an iPhone and laptop, although those records did not fully explain the evidence authorities expected to recover.
The latest search at Cloobeck’s property demonstrates that investigators are examining locations associated with Swalwell beyond his own residences.
What remains unclear is whether the Beverly Hills operation produced evidence that could lead to criminal charges.
Federal prosecutors have not publicly disclosed the complete scope of the investigation. ABC News+2
Cloobeck Faces Separate Legal Troubles
The billionaire at the center of Tuesday’s search is also confronting an unrelated criminal case.
Earlier this year, Los Angeles prosecutors charged Cloobeck with attempting to discourage witnesses from participating in a separate prosecution involving his former fiancée, social media personality Adva Lavie.
The charges included three felony counts related to alleged witness interference and a misdemeanor involving telephone communications.
Cloobeck has pleaded not guilty.
The separate case involves allegations concerning Lavie and individuals she allegedly encountered through online relationships.
Authorities have not established that Cloobeck’s pending criminal case was the reason federal agents searched his mansion in connection with the Swalwell investigation.
His attorneys said he was not present during the search and expressed confidence in the legal process. NBC Los Angeles+2
Swalwell’s Earlier Chinese Intelligence Controversy Returns to the Spotlight
Long before the sexual misconduct allegations surfaced, Swalwell faced questions about his past association with Christine Fang, a Chinese national suspected by U.S. counterintelligence officials of conducting influence activities.
The controversy attracted attention because Swalwell served on the House Intelligence Committee, where lawmakers handled sensitive national security matters.
Swalwell’s association with Fang became a political flashpoint, particularly among Republican critics who questioned whether the relationship presented counterintelligence concerns.
However, Swalwell was not accused of criminal wrongdoing in that earlier matter.
The available reporting also does not establish that the October Beverly Hills search was connected to Fang or the earlier intelligence controversy.
Those distinctions are important because the current federal investigation concerns separate allegations of sexual misconduct. AP News+1
What Happens Next Could Be Critical
The latest FBI operation leaves several major questions unresolved.
Investigators have not publicly identified everything they collected from Cloobeck’s mansion, whether additional warrants are being prepared, or when prosecutors might reach decisions concerning the allegations against Swalwell.
The search also places renewed attention on the relationship between a former congressman and a billionaire political benefactor who publicly disavowed him months earlier.
For Swalwell, the developments represent another chapter in a dramatic reversal of political fortunes.
Once a prominent Democratic voice in Congress, a presidential candidate, and a contender for California governor, he now faces ongoing investigations while denying the accusations that ended his congressional career.
The FBI’s latest move confirms that the inquiry remains active.
Whether investigators uncover evidence sufficient to support criminal charges remains an open question.
For now, the federal search of a former ally’s Beverly Hills mansion has ensured that the Swalwell investigation remains firmly in the public spotlight.
