Details of a past romance between Rep. Eric Swalwell and Katie Miller, the current wife of former Trump administration official Stephen Miller, have surfaced amidst a dispute over the Justice Department's investigative file concerning Swalwell's past contacts with a suspected Chinese spy.
Swalwell's legal team reportedly brought up the decade-old relationship as part of their efforts to prevent the Justice Department from making public its file on his ties to Christine Fang, a Chinese national who fled the U.S. in 2015. Fang had reportedly spent years cultivating relationships with California Democrats, including bundling donations for Swalwell's 2014 re-election campaign and placing an intern in his congressional office.
Federal agents had alerted Swalwell to Fang's activities in a defensive briefing, after which he severed ties with her and cooperated with investigators. The probe concluded without charges, but the association has remained a point of contention since it became public in 2020.
As the FBI signaled an intent to release the investigative files earlier this year, Swalwell's lawyers argued that the Trump administration's potential release of the documents would appear to be a politically motivated attempt to weaponize the Justice Department against him. The dispute involved back-and-forth discussions between Swalwell's attorney and Justice Department lawyers aimed at keeping the file sealed.
Katie Miller, who was 22 and an intern when her relationship with Swalwell began, reportedly stated she was unaware her past with Swalwell had been raised with the Justice Department. The romance reportedly ended long before she became involved with Stephen Miller. The couple has been married for six years and has four children.
Pam Bondi, who served as Attorney General during the period when the file's release was being considered, denied having any conversations with Swalwell or his legal team regarding the Chinese spy or directing anyone at the Justice Department not to release the files. Bondi was reportedly removed from her role in April, with former President Donald Trump allegedly believing she had informed Swalwell of the administration's plan to release the documents. Swalwell has denied receiving any such tip-off.
Miller has since become a vocal critic of Swalwell, frequently commenting on his ethics and conduct via social media while defending her husband. Bondi stated that her only contact with Swalwell concerned death threats made against his wife and children.