The Securities and Exchange Commission actually uses the term “romantic partner”, not girlfriend in this complaint. I guess the SEC doesn’t want to impose labels on the relationship. Based on this case, I assume the relationship is over. The COVID pandemic was hard on a lot of relationships with couples isolated at home. Stealing information from your “romantic partner” seems likely to end the relationship.
That’s just what Steven Teixeira did. While working at home during the pandemic, Teixeira would access her laptop while she was out of the room or outside their Queens apartment.
Source: The One with the Girlfriend’s Laptop – Compliance Building