Kash Patel Meets with FBI as Fallout from Swalwell’s Resignation Intensifies

FBI Director Invites Swalwell for Interview Following Congressional Resignation Amid Misconduct Allegations

FBI Director Kash Patel has publicly invited former Representative Eric Swalwell to meet with federal investigators following the California Democrat’s resignation from Congress amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations. The invitation, posted on social media platform X, marks the latest development in the long-running feud between the two political figures.

“@EricSwalwell has maintained that none of the allegations against him are true, and now that he’s resigned, we would welcome him to sit down with the FBI and share any information he has,” Patel wrote. “We also encourage and welcome any person with relevant information to any of these matters to speak with us. Door is open to all.”

Swalwell announced his resignation from Congress on Monday while facing mounting scrutiny over allegations of sexual misconduct, including claims from a former aide who said he assaulted her. The seven-term congressman has denied these allegations, but his political career has rapidly unraveled with the emergence of multiple investigations.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office confirmed it had opened a criminal investigation into Swalwell, while the House Ethics Committee announced it had launched its own probe into the allegations. The congressman suspended his California gubernatorial campaign over the weekend following a San Francisco Chronicle report detailing accusations from a former staffer who claimed Swalwell assaulted her on two occasions when she was allegedly too intoxicated to consent.

Patel’s invitation to Swalwell introduces potential federal exposure for the former congressman, who was once considered a rising star in Democratic politics. The FBI Director’s spokesperson, Erica Knight, highlighted the contentious relationship between the two by recirculating a quote from Patel during a congressional hearing last year: “Director Patel: ‘I’m gonna borrow your terminology and call bull—- on your entire career in Congress. It has been a disgrace to the American people.'”

The animosity between Patel and Swalwell dates back to their time on opposite sides of the House Intelligence Committee during investigations into whether President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia. Patel, who previously served as a senior aide on the committee, even mentioned Swalwell in his book “Government Gangsters,” identifying him as one of the “corrupt actors of the first order.”

Last month, Patel ordered a review of decade-old FBI files concerning Swalwell’s past association with Christine Fang, an alleged Chinese spy. Swalwell’s lawyers characterized this move as an “extraordinary use of FBI resources to target a political enemy.”

Swalwell’s relationships with Republican lawmakers have been consistently hostile. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy removed Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee in 2023, stating at the time that the congressman was untrustworthy and that “we’re not going to provide him with the secrets to America.”

While denying what he called “serious, false allegations,” Swalwell has nevertheless apologized in recent statements for unspecified “mistakes.” His sudden resignation marks the end of a political career that once showed significant promise, having served in Congress since 2013 and even mounting a brief presidential campaign in 2019.

The scandal represents a stunning fall for the 43-year-old politician, who until recently was considered a potential future governor of California. Political analysts note that the bipartisan response to the allegations, with members of both parties calling for his resignation, reflects the seriousness of the accusations and the changing dynamics around accountability for sexual misconduct in politics.

Both Swalwell’s office and the FBI declined to comment when contacted by media outlets regarding Patel’s invitation.