The Los Angeles Police Department has opened a formal investigation into sexual assault allegations against Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, marking the second known law enforcement probe into claims made by a woman who says the congressman drugged and assaulted her during a 2018 encounter at a Los Angeles hotel.
The LAPD confirmed the investigation to The U.S. Sun, which first reported the development. A department spokesperson told the outlet that the case is now being handled by LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division, which oversees high-profile sex crimes investigations.
Swalwell has denied the allegations. His office has not commented publicly on the LAPD probe.
The woman behind the complaint has said that Swalwell drugged her drink during a 2018 meeting at a hotel in Los Angeles and then sexually assaulted her. She has alleged that the assault included choking and that she did not consent to the encounter. Her account first surfaced publicly earlier this year, and she has spoken with multiple outlets about her claims.
The accuser initially brought her allegations to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in New York, which opened its own investigation into the claims earlier this year. The LAPD investigation appears to have been triggered separately, based on the location where the alleged assault took place.
Investigators have not publicly confirmed what evidence, if any, has been collected or whether witnesses have been interviewed in connection with either probe. No charges have been filed in any jurisdiction.
The assignment of the case to LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division is procedurally notable. That unit handles the department's most sensitive and complex investigations, including cases involving public figures. Its involvement signals that LAPD brass classified the matter as high-profile from the outset.
The division's detectives operate with a degree of independence from local patrol commands, and cases routed there typically receive more resources and senior oversight. The LAPD spokesperson did not disclose how long the investigation has been active or what stage it has reached.
Authorities have not said whether the probe involves subpoenas, forensic evidence requests, or interviews with the congressman or his representatives. Swalwell has not indicated whether he has retained criminal defense counsel in connection with the matter.
The LAPD investigation lands on a congressman who was already facing intensifying scrutiny from multiple directions. The initial public disclosure of the woman's allegations prompted immediate calls for accountability from Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators.
Rep. Cory Mills, a Florida Republican, introduced a resolution to expel Swalwell from the House of Representatives over the sexual assault claims. That effort, while unlikely to succeed given the two-thirds vote threshold required for expulsion, reflected the political pressure building around the California Democrat.
Mills framed the resolution as a matter of institutional integrity, arguing that the allegations alone warranted formal congressional action. The expulsion push drew attention to the contrast between how Congress has handled allegations against members of different parties in recent years.
Swalwell, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, has been a vocal critic of Republicans and a frequent cable news presence. He served as an impeachment manager during the second impeachment trial of President Trump and has positioned himself as a leading voice on democratic norms and accountability.
The sexual assault investigation is not the only legal and political cloud hanging over Swalwell. He has faced years of questions about his past association with a woman identified by U.S. intelligence officials as a suspected Chinese intelligence operative. That individual, known publicly as Fang Fang or Christine Fang, reportedly cultivated relationships with several politicians, including Swalwell, before federal investigators intervened.
FBI Director Kash Patel recently ordered the release of investigative files related to Swalwell's ties to the suspected operative, a move that could shed new light on the nature and extent of that relationship. Swalwell has said he cut off contact with the individual as soon as he was briefed by the FBI and has denied any wrongdoing.
The convergence of the Chinese intelligence controversy and the sexual assault allegations has made Swalwell one of the most scrutinized Democrats in Congress. Republican critics have argued that the combination of issues raises serious questions about his fitness to serve on sensitive committees.
California's statute of limitations for felony sexual assault charges varies depending on the specific offense. Under current law, certain sex crimes can be prosecuted within ten years of the alleged offense, meaning the 2018 allegations could still fall within the prosecutable window. Prosecutors would need to determine which specific statutes, if any, apply to the conduct described by the accuser.
The parallel Manhattan DA investigation adds a layer of jurisdictional complexity. Investigators in both cities will need to determine where specific elements of the alleged conduct occurred and which office holds primary jurisdiction. Coordination between the two offices has not been publicly confirmed or denied.
For a sitting member of Congress, a criminal investigation carries unique procedural considerations. The Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause protects lawmakers from arrest in certain circumstances, but that protection does not extend to felony allegations. Swalwell would not enjoy any special immunity from state criminal charges if prosecutors determined the evidence warranted them.
The broader political landscape has also seen federal investigators increase their focus on political figures across the spectrum, raising questions about how law enforcement handles cases involving elected officials in a polarized environment.
The LAPD investigation remains in its early stages based on available public information. Robbery-Homicide detectives will need to interview the accuser in detail, identify and speak with any corroborating witnesses, and determine whether physical or digital evidence from 2018 can still be recovered. Hotel records, communications, and travel documentation could all become relevant.
Prosecutors at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office would ultimately decide whether to file charges, a determination that could take months depending on the complexity of the investigation and the strength of the evidence gathered.
Swalwell continues to serve in Congress and has not signaled any intention to step aside during the investigation. House Democratic leadership has not publicly addressed the LAPD probe.
The accuser's willingness to cooperate with law enforcement in two jurisdictions suggests she intends to press the matter through formal channels rather than rely solely on public pressure. Her attorneys have not publicly outlined a timeline for any potential civil action.
Two active law enforcement investigations into a sitting congressman's alleged conduct represent a serious institutional moment. Whether those probes produce charges, close without action, or stall in procedural limbo will say as much about the system's willingness to follow the evidence as it does about the facts of this case.
Conservatives watching this story unfold will want to see one thing above all: that a Democratic congressman faces the same investigative rigor that any other person accused of these crimes would face. No more, no less.
