Tycoon Stephen Cloobeck’s home raided in FBI Swalwell probe

FBI agents searched the Beverly Hills mansion of American timeshare tycoon Stephen Cloobeck on Tuesday as part of a federal investigation into Eric Swalwell, the former California congressman who resigned this year after several women accused him of sexual misconduct.

Agents arrived at the roughly 16,000-square-foot home on North Roxbury Drive at about 7 a.m., two people familiar with the investigation said. The search warrant and the court papers behind it are sealed, and authorities have not said what agents were looking for.

“Early this morning the FBI conducted an operation in the Los Angeles region related to an ongoing criminal investigation,” FBI spokesperson Lourdes Arocho said. “We have no further comment.” The agency said no arrests were planned.

Cloobeck, 64, has not been charged or accused of wrongdoing in the Swalwell investigation, and there is no public indication that the search is connected to a separate state case against him. Swalwell spent time at Cloobeck’s home before he left Congress in April, according to the two people familiar with the matter.

From donor to critic

Cloobeck made his fortune from Diamond Resorts International, the timeshare company he founded and sold to Apollo Global Management in 2016 in a deal valued at $2.2 billion. His net worth is estimated at about $750 million.

He ran briefly for governor of California in 2025, then dropped out and endorsed Swalwell, a Democrat from the San Francisco Bay Area, in the race. He gave $1 million to a political action committee backing Swalwell and $39,200 to his campaign, and he once called the congressman his “little brother.”

He turned on Swalwell in April as the allegations mounted. “I am no longer associated with a man that takes advantage of women,” he said at the time. “I support women’s rights.” He also said he was leaving the Democratic Party.

Allegations against Swalwell

A former staffer has accused Swalwell of sexually assaulting her twice, including raping her in a New York hotel room while he was in the city for a charity gala in 2024. Three other women have accused him of other kinds of sexual misconduct. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has said it is investigating and has asked anyone with information to contact its special victims division.

Separately, Lonna Drewes said in April that Swalwell drugged and raped her in a West Hollywood hotel room in 2018. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed it is investigating a report involving Swalwell. Authorities have not said whether Tuesday’s search is related to that complaint.

Swalwell quit the race for governor and resigned from Congress soon after the first reports. He has denied any criminal wrongdoing. “I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” he said then. “I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me.” His lawyer has called the allegations false.

In August, federal agents seized electronic devices from Swalwell at San Francisco International Airport and searched his home in Washington.

Cloobeck’s own case

Cloobeck is fighting criminal charges of his own in Los Angeles. County prosecutors charged him this year with three felony counts of trying to dissuade witnesses and one misdemeanor count of making annoying phone calls. The case involves witnesses and victims in a prosecution of Adva Lavie, a woman he was engaged to, who is accused of taking part in a burglary scheme linked to dating apps.

Cloobeck surrendered at the West Hollywood sheriff’s station in May and pleaded not guilty to all of the charges in August. His attorney has denied the allegations. Lavie has also pleaded not guilty.