The Air Marshals Keeping Watch On Eric Swalwell
The FBI reportedly requested that federal air marshals covertly monitor former Representative Eric Swalwell during a flight. The surveillance occurred amidst ongoing investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct against Swalwell and his role as a political antagonist to the Trump administration.
Why it matters
The report raises significant questions regarding the potential weaponization of federal law enforcement agencies against political opponents.
The FBI made a highly irregular request to monitor one of Trump’s most visible critics.
Illustration by The Atlantic* September 2, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save O n August 8 , former Representative Eric Swalwell boarded a United Airlines flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Washington, D.C. He didn’t know it, but federal agents were watching him throughout the nine-hour trip.
The FBI had asked the Federal Air Marshal Service to covertly monitor Swalwell on board and to watch him use his electronic devices, to see whether its officers could visually ascertain his passcodes, according to records I obtained that have not previously been reported on. Air marshals are trained to blend in with other passengers and quietly keep tabs on their subjects, who are usually suspected terrorists or potential hijackers, not politicians.
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