Newly declassified FBI records have shed new light on former Rep. Eric Swalwell's relationship with Christine "Fang Fang" Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, detailing interviews with the congressman and an investigation into her activities. The documents, released by the White House Government Transparency Task Force, describe two FBI interviews with Swalwell concerning Fang's alleged involvement in illicit campaign contributions, funneling interns to his office, and other activities.
FBI agents seized Swalwell's electronic devices at San Francisco International Airport and searched his Washington, D.C., residence in connection with a probe into sexual misconduct. The declassified files indicate that the FBI's concerns about Swalwell extended beyond his admitted romantic relationship with Fang.
During the controversy that first surfaced in December 2020, when then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sought to remove Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee, senior Democrats mounted defenses. Then-Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., called McCarthy's actions a "frivolous, political exercise" and a "patently unfair smear," asserting that Swalwell had "served honorably" and had "never been accused of any kind of wrongdoing."
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., similarly dismissed the allegations as "pernicious nonsense" and "spurious allegations." Then-House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer described McCarthy's effort as a "frivolous, political exercise" intended to "attack the reputation of an outstanding Member of Congress."
In January 2023, then-Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., stated on CNN that "the FBI has clearly stated that Swalwell … has been cleared," and that Swalwell and Schiff "have not done anything incorrectly."
The newly released documents reveal that the FBI investigated Fang as a significant counterintelligence concern, suspecting ties to China's Ministry of State Security (MSS). The bureau had at one point attempted to recruit her as a confidential source. The investigation examined possible bribery, foreign campaign contributions, and efforts to trade access to Swalwell and congressional internships for political donations.
Ultimately, investigators did not find evidence that Swalwell participated in a quid-pro-quo scheme or committed federal corruption violations, and he was removed as a subject of the investigation in 2017. The bipartisan House Ethics Committee closed its own investigation into Swalwell's interactions with Fang in May 2023 without further action.
Despite these defenses, McCarthy, who had received a classified FBI briefing on the matter in December 2020, maintained that Swalwell "should not be on Intel" due to "recklessness."
Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had initially defended Swalwell, stating in December 2020 that she had "full confidence in Congressman Swalwell’s service in the Congress and on the Intelligence Committee." However, following a classified briefing with McCarthy, Pelosi's office indicated she had "no knowledge of any of these allegations" regarding sexual misconduct, distancing herself from the congressman.
Swalwell was later reappointed to the Intelligence Committee in March 2021. As of this report, top Democrats mentioned in connection with the past defenses did not respond to requests for comment.