Peltola ally Eric Swalwell reportedly searched by FBI, as scrutiny grows over Mary’s Epstein-linked donors

By SUZANNE DOWNING

Aug. 20, 2026 – Mary Peltola’s reliable partner during her time in Congress, former California Rep. Eric Swalwell, is facing even more legal trouble, according to a new report alleging FBI agents seized his electronic devices and searched his Washington, DC residence as part of an ongoing sexual-misconduct investigation.

The Daily Mail reported that federal agents confronted Swalwell when he arrived at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday. Armed with a court-approved search warrant, agents reportedly seized his cellphone and other electronic devices.

According to the report, agents executed additional search warrants Sunday at Swalwell’s Washington residence and removed other items as potential evidence.

Swalwell cooperated with investigators, the Daily Mail reported.

Neither the FBI nor the Department of Justice had publicly announced charges against Swalwell as of Wednesday. He has denied the sexual-assault and misconduct allegations that led to his resignation from Congress earlier this year and the end of his campaign for governor of California.

For Alaskans, Swalwell is not merely another disgraced former congressman from California. He was one of Peltola’s dependable Democratic partners during her brief tenure in the US House. And he helped her raise funds for her campaign.

Swalwell even traveled to Alaska in 2023 to help Peltola raise money for her congressional reelection. He went fishing with Peltola and was presented as the star attraction at a Juneau fundraiser organized with the Tongass Democrats.

At the time, Swalwell was already a controversial figure because of his relationship with Christine “Fang Fang” Fang, whom the FBI suspected of working on behalf of Chinese intelligence.

Newly declassified FBI records released this week revealed that Swalwell admitted during interviews with federal agents that he had a physical relationship with Fang. The records reportedly also show that Fang solicited campaign contributions for Swalwell from foreign nationals.

The newly released records have revived questions about his judgment, his former position on the House Intelligence Committee, and the Democratic leaders who embrace him, including Peltola.

Swalwell, friend to Peltola and foe of Alaska’s economy, facing increased pressure to withdraw from campaign

Peltola now has another politically uncomfortable association to explain as she campaigns against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Townhall reported that Peltola has accepted more than $140,000 across her House and Senate campaigns from people the outlet describes as associates of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The donors identified by Townhall include LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman; restaurateurs Tim and Nina Zagat; former Google CEO Eric Schmidt; Melinda French Gates; Jon Stryker; Peter Kellner; Laura Lauder; Mark Nunnelly; Cale and Django Bonderman; Laurie Michaels; and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

The nature of those connections varies considerably. Some had documented meetings, travel or social contact with Epstein, while others were only in records associated with him. None of the donors identified by Townhall has been charged with wrongdoing.

Hoffman acknowledged meeting with Epstein years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction, saying the relationship involved fundraising for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was something he regretted. Townhall reported that Tim Zagat flew aboard Epstein’s private jet to a 2002 conference and that the Zagats gave $13,000 to Peltola’s campaigns.

Peltola’s campaign told FactCheck.org that some of the contributions were made before the latest Epstein records became public and that several donors had only incidental connections to the records.

The controversy comes as Peltola and Alaska Democrats attempt to connect Sullivan to Epstein through a September 2025 procedural vote and contributions from two donors whose names appeared in Epstein-related materials.

That attack omits an important part of Sullivan’s record: In November 2025, Sullivan joined the rest of the Senate in approving the Epstein Files Transparency Act by unanimous consent. President Donald Trump subsequently signed the disclosure bill into law.

Peltola pal Eric Swalwell faces misconduct claims as he mounts campaign for California governor

Peltola’s campaign is not merely benefiting politically from its enormous take from Epstein associates. Peltola is drawing a paycheck from that campaign.

Federal campaign reports previously reviewed by The Alaska Story show that Alaskans for Mary has paid Peltola a salary of more than $5,500 a month while she campaigns for Sullivan’s Senate seat. That means money from the campaign’s contributors, including donors identified by Townhall as having connections to Epstein, flows into the same campaign account from which Peltola draws a paycheck.

Paying a candidate a salary under federal election rules adds another dimension to questions about the sources of Peltola’s campaign money and the degree to which her political operation is financed by wealthy donors far outside Alaska.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has also filed a separate Federal Election Commission complaint alleging Peltola improperly used money remaining in her former House campaign account for personal travel, meals and other expenses before launching her Senate campaign.

Swalwell’s reported encounter with FBI agents is the latest reminder that the political relationships Peltola cultivated in Washington have followed her back to Alaska, both physically and financially.

Peltola ally Rep. Eric Swalwell admitted sexual relationship with suspected Chinese spy ‘Fang Fang,’ FBI files reveal

Swalwell resigns from Congress

Cali cash carries Mary Peltola’s campaign for Senate