Eric Swalwell Admits to Sexual Relationship with Chinese Spy Fang Fang
Declassified files released by President Donald Trump reveal that former Congressman Eric Swalwell admitted to the FBI that he had a sexual relationship with Fang Fang, a Chinese national suspected of being an intelligence operative. The documents indicate that the FBI had been aware of the relationship since at least 2014, prior to the public disclosure of the story in 2020.
The files, published on the White House Election Integrity webpage, detail how Fang, who had ties to China's intelligence services, allegedly compromised Swalwell through sexual relations, foreign interns, and illicit donations while she was being recruited as a potential informant for the FBI.
The investigation into Swalwell, codenamed "Freshman Fifteen," was opened due to concerns about possible violations of federal laws, including bribery and excessive campaign contributions. Witnesses reported that Fang facilitated campaign contributions for Swalwell in exchange for placing interns in his office. One witness recounted Fang instructing a winery owner to bring his checkbook to a campaign event, promising reimbursement for his contributions.
In a May 2015 interview, Swalwell described Fang as a striking individual and admitted to meeting her for drinks, which led to a sexual relationship. He stated that their encounters were casual and did not develop into a romantic relationship, with the last sexual encounter occurring in March 2015.
Fang was introduced to Swalwell through the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association, and several interns referred by her worked in Swalwell's office. Despite the FBI's initial interest in recruiting Fang as an informant, the investigation shifted focus to her alleged criminal activities.
The FBI conducted searches of Fang's residence in California, seizing various materials, including documents and a name badge linking her to Swalwell. Following her departure to China in 2015, the FBI concluded that while they found evidence of Fang's violations of federal laws, they did not find sufficient evidence to prosecute Swalwell for corruption or a quid pro quo arrangement.
The investigation into Fang ultimately revealed her connections to the Chinese government, including her parents' roles as intelligence officers. Although the FBI initially considered prosecuting her, they deemed it non-viable due to national security concerns. The case highlights ongoing issues related to foreign influence in U.S. politics and the complexities of counterintelligence efforts.
