Over the past week, a long-dormant case involving a California Democratic politician and a suspected Chinese spy has once again taken the spotlight in major media outlets.
According to a report by The Washington Post on March 28, FBI Director Kash Patel is pushing for the release of old investigation files related to the relationship between California Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell and suspected Chinese spy Fang Fang (also known as Christine Fang).
On Monday, Swalwell’s legal team issued a cease-and-desist letter to FBI Director demanding a halt to any plans to release the old investigation files or face legal action.
Swalwell, who is currently running for governor of California, took to social media on Wednesday to accuse the FBI of attempting to publicly disclose old files as a means of interfering in the gubernatorial election. However, many online comments questioned why he was “afraid to prevent the release of the files.”
These old files stem from a more than decade-long counterintelligence investigation. At that time, FBI counterintelligence officers were investigating Chinese national Fang Fang, suspected of being a Chinese spy, who was allegedly involved in maintaining a dubious relationship with Swalwell during his reelection campaign in 2014, aiding in fundraising efforts.
In 2020, the U.S. news website Axios revealed details of this scandal: Chinese spy Fang Fang rapidly infiltrated the sensitive American political circle through long-term financial favors (political donations) and sexual bribery. Fang Fang maintained unusually close ties with the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco. U.S. counterintelligence officials believe her superior was the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS).
The report indicated that Fang Fang was highly active in California politics from 2011 to 2015, engaging in sexual relations with several American politicians, especially targeting Swalwell as a key “target of cultivation.” They began their relationship when Swalwell was still a city councilor, appearing together in multiple public events.
In 2013, Swalwell entered the U.S. Congress and became a member of the House Intelligence Committee in 2015, gaining access to top-secret American information. That same year, the FBI alerted Swalwell about the risks involved and briefed Congress on the situation.
During the FBI investigation, Fang Fang abruptly left the U.S. and returned to China in 2015; Swalwell denied any improper behavior with her and was not charged with any criminal offense. The House Ethics Committee commenced a two-year investigation in 2021 but ultimately took no further action, with lingering doubts in the public about whether he “might have leaked any information.”
Swalwell is currently fully focused on his campaign for governor of California. According to Decision Desk HQ’s polling average, he leads among Democratic gubernatorial candidates with a support rate of 13.4%.
However, the polls show that Swalwell currently ranks third, trailing behind Republican candidate and former Fox News host Steve Hilton (17.3%) and Republican candidate and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (13.6%). ◇