FBI Files About Former Congressman Released

Newly released FBI files confirm that former Rep. Eric Swalwell admitted to a sexual relationship with a suspected Chinese spy. The White House Transparency Task Force made these investigative documents public on Monday. These records show the former congressman had physical relations with the woman multiple times.

Swalwell told agents he “hooked up” with Christine Fang, also known as “Fang Fang,” on at least two occasions. One of these meetings happened after he took a prescription sleep aid called Ambien. According to the document, Swalwell has little recollection of the incident since he consumed Ambien before Fang’s arrival. The files say he takes the drug to help him sleep.

The FBI first met Fang in 2013 when agents tried to recruit her as a double agent. They gave her the codename “Rusty Thumbs” during this effort. A 2013 memo noted that Fang claimed she could “use her sexuality on politicians” because she was “young and pretty.” Agents later closed this recruitment file because they felt she could not be trusted.

The documents reveal that Fang also helped organize fundraisers for Swalwell in Las Vegas and California. She reportedly funneled illegal campaign donations to the politician through U.S. citizen conduits. Agents tracked instances where she reimbursed donors to hide the foreign source of the funds.

Fang also repeatedly referred interns to both Swalwell’s campaign and his congressional office. The bureau initially viewed these job placements as a potential trade for the illegal money. Swalwell engaged in this conduct during his initial House of Representatives tenure spanning 2013 to 2015.

The New York Post reports that records identify Fang as a suspected operative linked to the Chinese Communist Party. As a student residing in California, she focused her efforts on targeting U.S. politicians. The report says she is now barred from returning to the United States.

Swalwell once joked to the FBI that Fang worked for China’s Ministry of State Security. The declassified memo says he made this comment in a joking manner. However, Fang also joked that her agency would hire prostitutes instead of using officers to entice officials.

The report notes that Fang was described as a “striking individual” in the FBI’s file. She allegedly bragged about her seductive exploits and her ability to influence people. The New York Post reports that these files reveal a relationship that went deeper than previously known.

Swalwell had battled the FBI to block the release of these documents on Fang. He previously admitted to “physical relations with Fang on a handful of occasions” in 2015. Although GOP leadership temporarily ousted him from the Intelligence Committee, Democrats subsequently restored his position on it.

The files remain online for public review following the Monday release. Fang’s parents were known to be Chinese intelligence officers at the time of the investigation. The bureau assessed that her motivations centered on money and power. This case shows how foreign agents can exploit personal weaknesses to gain access to American officials.