Declassified FBI Documents Reveal Extent Of Swalwell Scandal

Newly released FBI records are providing additional details about the bureau’s investigation into the relationship between former Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California and Christine Fang, a Chinese national who was also known as Fang Fang.

The documents, which were declassified by President Donald Trump and released by the White House Government Transparency Task Force, describe allegations that investigators examined during the FBI’s inquiry into Fang’s activities.

According to reporting from Just the News, the records indicate that the FBI investigated whether Fang had developed a close relationship with Swalwell while also attempting to build political connections in the United States. The outlet reported that investigators looked into allegations involving campaign contributions, congressional interns and Swalwell’s personal relationship with Fang.

One FBI document reportedly described Fang as a facilitator in a possible scheme involving access to Swalwell and internships in his congressional office in exchange for campaign contributions. Investigators also alleged that Fang used U.S. citizens as intermediaries to make contributions while concealing her status as a foreign national, which would have prohibited her from directly donating to federal campaigns.

The records, as described by Just the News and The Post Millennial, show that investigators at one point considered whether Swalwell should be examined as part of a potential bribery investigation. The FBI ultimately did not pursue such a case against him and instead continued focusing on Fang.

Just the News reported that FBI records said Swalwell acknowledged having a sexual relationship with Fang and that members of his staff had helped place individuals recommended by Fang into internships. The documents also reportedly addressed questions about whether his campaign’s financial controls were capable of identifying contributions allegedly routed through other people.

Those claims are contained in investigative records and do not, by themselves, establish that Swalwell committed a crime. He was not charged in connection with the matter.

The documents also shed light on the FBI’s own relationship with Fang. Investigators reportedly considered recruiting her as a confidential source and were evaluating whether she could become an FBI informant when they encountered information suggesting possible criminal activity.

According to the reporting, prosecutors ultimately did not bring charges against Fang, who later left the United States.

The records further indicate that investigators were concerned about Fang’s suspected connections to Chinese intelligence. Previous reporting has said U.S. officials believed she was involved in an influence operation aimed at developing relationships with American political figures.

Swalwell’s office has long maintained that he cooperated with federal investigators after being alerted to concerns about Fang.

In a statement reported by Axios in 2020, his office said Swalwell had provided information about Fang to the FBI years earlier and had stopped having contact with her. His office also declined at the time to discuss details that could involve classified information.

The newly released FBI material is heavily redacted, leaving portions of the investigation unavailable to the public. Still, the records offer a more detailed picture of what federal investigators were examining and how seriously the FBI viewed Fang’s activities.

The documents also show the distinction between allegations explored during an investigation and conduct that prosecutors were ultimately willing or able to charge. While investigators considered a number of potentially serious issues involving Fang’s political activities and relationships, the records released so far do not show that Swalwell was criminally prosecuted over the matter.

The Western Journal