FBI Records Show Eric Swalwell's Encounters with Chinese Spy Fang Fang
Declassified FBI records have revealed that former Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, admitted to having physical relations with Christine Fang Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, on multiple occasions. The records, released by the White House Government Transparency Task Force, detail interviews conducted by the FBI in 2015 and 2016 as part of an investigation into Fang's involvement in illicit campaign contributions and her connections to Swalwell's office.
During the first interview in May 2015, Swalwell acknowledged having physical relations with Fang Fang on a handful of occasions, with their last encounter occurring in March 2015. Swalwell, who joined Congress in 2013, described their relationship as casual, although he noted that Fang may have desired a more romantic connection.
In a subsequent interview in March 2016, Swalwell recounted an incident where Fang arrived at his apartment and they engaged in sexual activity after he had taken Ambien, a powerful sleep medication. He indicated that he had little recollection of the event. The FBI records suggest that these encounters likely took place before Swalwell was elected to Congress.
The documents also indicate that Fang Fang was involved in facilitating campaign contributions to Swalwell's political efforts, with evidence suggesting she used conduits to conceal her status as a prohibited foreign national. The FBI found that Fang had orchestrated contributions to Swalwell's campaign at least twice in 2013 and again in 2014, while also referring interns to his office.
Despite the serious nature of these allegations, the FBI concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge Swalwell with federal corruption violations or to suggest he participated in a quid-pro-quo scheme. Swalwell was removed as a subject of the investigation in 2017, although the FBI noted that Fang Fang had violated federal election laws.
The declassified files also revealed that the FBI had previously attempted to recruit Fang Fang as a confidential source, suspecting her ties to China's Ministry of State Security. Swalwell reported that Fang frequently encouraged him to visit China, extending invitations during social gatherings.
By the time of his 2016 interview, Swalwell stated that he had severed contact with Fang after being briefed by the FBI about foreign intelligence targeting. The release of these documents sheds light on a previously murky relationship and raises questions about foreign influence in U.S. politics.
