Federal agents search donor’s Beverly Hills home in probe of Peltola pal Eric Swalwell

THE ALASKA STORY

Oct. 27, 2026 — Federal agents searched the Beverly Hills home of a major Eric Swalwell donor Tuesday as investigators continued examining sexual misconduct allegations against the former California congressman, who previously traveled to Alaska to help Mary Peltola raise campaign money.

The Associated Press reported that agents searched developer Stephen Cloobeck’s property, where Swalwell had spent time before resigning from Congress in April. Swalwell has denied criminal wrongdoing. AP attributed information about the search to people familiar with the investigation who spoke anonymously. 

The investigation has an Alaska connection through Swalwell’s political friendship with Peltola.

In September 2023, Swalwell traveled to Juneau to headline a fundraiser supporting Peltola’s congressional reelection campaign. The Tongass Democrats hosted the gathering at a private home on North Douglas Island. As The Alaska Story previously reported, the two became allies during their time in Congress. Swalwell also went fishing with Peltola during his Alaska visit.

Peltola lost her 2024 reelection bid to Republican Nick Begich and is now challenging Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. She has separately faced allegations concerning her treatment of employees.

A September New York Times report described accounts from former staff members alleging angry outbursts, name-calling and an incident in which Peltola allegedly shoved an aide. Alaska Public Media reported that text messages supported some of the accounts.

Peltola’s campaign disputed the portrayal, saying the reporting exaggerated incidents during a period when she was grieving the deaths of her mother and husband and falsely presented them as a pattern of behavior. 

Cloobeck, who founded Diamond Resorts International, publicly broke with Swalwell in April as the accusations mounted.

“I am no longer associated with a man that takes advantage of women,” Cloobeck told the New York Post. “I support women’s rights.”

The federal inquiry followed allegations by a woman who said Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice, including while she worked for him. Tuesday’s search follows earlier investigative steps in August, when federal agents seized Swalwell’s electronic devices at San Francisco International Airport and searched his Washington home. Swalwell also abandoned his campaign for California governor after the allegations surfaced.