Declassified FBI Records Show Swalwell Admitted to Physical Relations with Suspected Chinese Operative

Newly declassified federal records indicate that former Representative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, informed FBI agents he had engaged in "physical relations" with Christine "Fang Fang" Fang, a woman identified as a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, on several occasions.

These documents, released by the White House Government Transparency Task Force following declassification by President Donald Trump, provide extensive details from two FBI interviews with Swalwell. These interviews took place at an Oakland field office in May 2015 and March 2016. They were conducted as part of a wider investigation into Fang Fang's alleged involvement in illicit campaign contributions, her role in facilitating internships for Swalwell's office, and other related activities.

Details of the Encounters

During his initial interview, Swalwell disclosed to agents that he had "physical relations" with Fang Fang a "handful of occasions," with their final such encounter occurring in March 2015. Swalwell had commenced his tenure in Congress in 2013.

In the subsequent interview, Swalwell recounted multiple interactions. He described one instance where Fang Fang arrived at his apartment, knocking on his door, and they subsequently "hooked up" after he had taken a potent sleep medication. The former congressman stated he had limited recollection of this particular event. The records suggest these incidents "probably" took place before Swalwell's election to Congress.

FANG left after a couple hours. Swalwell barely remembers the event because he had taken Ambien prior to FANG arriving,

an FBI interview summary noted.

Swalwell characterized his physical relationship with Fang Fang as "casual" to investigators, asserting that the two "never dated" and "never had a romantic relationship." He also conveyed to agents his belief that Fang "may have wanted a more romantic relationship," according to the summary of the 2015 interview.

The documents further state:

Swalwell had a drink with Fang a couple weeks after they first met in 2012. He had physical relations with Fang on a handful of occasions, but never dated her or had a romantic relationship. March 2015 was the last time Swalwell had physical relations with Fang. Swalwell considered their physical relationship to be casual, but believed that Fang may have wanted a more romantic relationship.

These files, which were initially reported on by an independent news organization, were declassified as part of the previous administration's broader strategy to counter foreign threats to American electoral and political systems. They offer a significantly more comprehensive insight into the relationship between Swalwell and Fang Fang, an association that had remained largely undisclosed for years. Swalwell had previously declined to specify the nature of their interactions, often dismissing allegations as partisan attacks.

Investigation Findings and Allegations

Beyond the disclosures concerning Swalwell’s intimate interactions with Fang Fang, the records indicate that the FBI identified financial documentation suggesting Fang Fang utilized intermediaries to obscure her identity as a prohibited foreign-national source. She allegedly orchestrated conduit contributions to Swalwell’s campaign at least twice in 2013 and on at least two additional occasions in 2014.

The documents also reveal that Fang Fang referred potential interns to Swalwell's political operation. During his 2016 FBI interview, Swalwell informed agents that he perceived any individual Fang Fang proposed for an internship as coming through the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA), an organization with which Fang was reportedly associated.

The referrals for internships constituted one aspect of the FBI's wider inquiry. An investigative memorandum stated that agents were examining claims that Fang Fang facilitated access to Swalwell and internships within his congressional office in exchange for campaign contributions. However, the FBI ultimately concluded that it did not uncover evidence of Swalwell committing federal corruption violations or engaging in a quid-pro-quo arrangement.

Swalwell was formally removed as a subject of the investigation in 2017. Nevertheless, the bureau did indicate that it found evidence suggesting Fang Fang herself violated federal election laws pertaining to foreign-national and conduit contributions.

Fang Fang's Alleged Background and Activities

The declassified files disclosed that the FBI had previously attempted to recruit Fang Fang as a confidential source under the codename "RUSTY THUMBS." Agents suspected her of having connections to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), noting that her parents were reportedly considered known Chinese intelligence officers.

Furthermore, Fang consistently encouraged Swalwell to travel to China, according to the records. In his 2016 FBI interview, Swalwell recounted that Fang "would generally mention that SWALWELL should go to CHINA," and he noted that she extended a China invitation to someone in his inner circle during an election-night party in November 2014.

By the time of that 2016 interview, Swalwell informed agents that he had ceased all contact with Fang Fang. This decision followed an initial meeting with the FBI regarding the matter, where agents provided him with a defensive briefing in late April 2015. During this briefing, they specifically discussed Fang Fang and her suspected connections to foreign intelligence.