Former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s attorney is demanding an investigation into alleged Justice Department and FBI leaks surrounding the criminal investigation into sexual misconduct accusations against the former California congressman.
Attorney Sara Azari accused federal officials of repeatedly disclosing sensitive information about the investigation to the media despite the fact that Swalwell has not been charged with a crime.
“For nearly a decade, former Congressman Swalwell has been the subject of continuous federal scrutiny, investigations, and leaks — without any charges ever being brought,” Azari said.
Her demand follows revelations that federal air marshals were reportedly enlisted to secretly monitor Swalwell while he traveled aboard a United Airlines flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Washington, D.C., on Aug. 8.
According to the report, air marshals were instructed to observe Swalwell during the transatlantic flight and potentially identify passcodes he used to access his electronic devices.
The unusual surveillance operation occurred exactly one week before the FBI investigation became dramatically more public.
On Aug. 15, federal agents confronted Swalwell shortly after he arrived at San Francisco International Airport. Newly released surveillance footage shows several agents approaching him near his gate before escorting him into a restricted section of the airport.
Court records indicate that agents seized an iPhone, laptop and other electronic items during the encounter.
Federal authorities executed another search warrant at Swalwell’s Washington, D.C., residence the following day as part of the ongoing investigation.
Swalwell is being investigated over allegations of sexual misconduct that surfaced earlier this year. The accusations include claims of sexual assault, which he has denied.
The allegations prompted Swalwell to suspend his campaign for California governor and resign from Congress in April.
Swalwell has not been charged with any crime, and the existence of an investigation does not establish that the allegations against him are true.
Azari argues that Swalwell and his attorneys had consistently cooperated with federal authorities before the searches and would have voluntarily provided electronic devices if investigators had requested them.
“We’ve been in touch with the Department of Justice throughout this investigation and have always cooperated,” Azari said, adding that investigators had never previously asked Swalwell to surrender his phones or other devices.
She questioned why authorities instead executed highly visible search warrants at an airport and at a residence where Swalwell’s three young children were present.
Azari also alleged that reporters were tipped off about the search warrants before they were executed, arguing that such information could only have originated from inside the federal government.
She pointed to other recent disclosures involving Swalwell, including information surrounding his past interactions with suspected Chinese intelligence operative Christine Fang. Swalwell was previously investigated over his relationship with Fang and was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing in that matter.
Azari said grand jury secrecy rules and Justice Department policies are specifically intended to prevent uncharged individuals from being publicly tried through anonymous government leaks.
“We’ve asked for and expect an investigation into the source of these leaks and disclosures,” she said.
Former federal prosecutor Alexander Wentworth-Ping described the reported use of air marshals to observe Swalwell’s electronic passcodes as “extraordinary,” although he noted that such tactics would not necessarily be illegal.
The controversy now adds another layer to an already explosive federal investigation. Swalwell remains under scrutiny over serious allegations he denies, while his legal team is demanding answers about whether federal officials improperly leaked investigative information before any criminal charges were filed.
The post Eric Swalwell’s Lawyer Demands Probe Into Alleged FBI Leaks as Criminal Investigation Intensifies appeared first on Real News Now.
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