WASHINGTON — A three-year FBI probe into then-Rep. Eric Swalwell determined suspected Chinese spy Fang Fang helped solicit illegal campaign donations — but the investigation was dropped for “national security reasons,” according to bureau files declassified by the White House Monday.
An undercover operation targeted the California Democrat between May 2014 and May 2017 following a tip that “internships in Congressman Eric Swalwell’s offices were promised in exchange for campaign contributions,” according to a June 10, 2014, FBI memo.
“As part of the scheme to purchase internships, campaign contributions were conduited through third parties to mask the true identity of the donor and in some cases made by foreign nationals in violation of federal criminal law,” noted the memo.
FBI agents conducted interviews with Swalwell, unidentified campaign donors and others in the congressman’s orbit — but were unable to substantiate the quid pro quo allegations.
However, the investigation did uncover evidence that Fang — who also went by Christine Fang — broke the law by soliciting illegal straw donations from foreign nationals, destroyed records, made false statements, smuggled cash and acted as an unregistered foreign agent, presumably for China, according to a May 2, 2017, bureau memo.
“Fang left the United States in [redacted] and has been barred from re-entry pursuant to Security and Advisory Opinions issued by the United States Department of State,” that memo added.
“In consultation with San Francisco Division Executive Management, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, SAC San Francisco has determined that prosecution is non-viable due to national security reasons.”
The FBI had hoped the undercover probe, codenamed “Freshman Fifteen,” would gather sufficient evidence to indict and arrest both Swalwell and Fang for campaign finance law violations — but neither were charged.
Both Swalwell and other associates interviewed by bureau agents indicated that they viewed Fang as a potential spy for the Chinese Communist Party, given that she almost never attended classes at California State University, East Bay, or did coursework — despite being in the US on a F-1 student visa.
Fang’s parents were also “known intelligence officers” in China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), and she maintained ties to other affiliates of that agency, which Swalwell jokingly referred to as the “Chinese CIA” in an interview with the FBI.
“She was very private and would frequently be gone without any explanation,” one interview subject noted of Fang. “However, she also did things that [redacted] considered to be very obvious and not very smart.”
Swalwell, now 45, later copped to investigators that he had “hooked up” with Fang at least twice at his apartment — once when he let her in after having taken an Ambien to help him sleep, after which he said he “barely” recalled the tryst.
A former Swalwell campaign aide confirmed to FBI agents Fang was “very flirtatious” and had even boasted to the congressman “that she was not wearing any underwear,” when arriving at his doorstep unannounced for one of their liaisons.
Swalwell’s links to Fang, first reported by Axios in December 2020, led to then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) booting the Democrat from his post on the chamber’s Intelligence Committee in January 2023, citing Fang’s relationship with the congressman as a national security threat.
Swalwell said he viewed Fang as his main point of contact with the local chapter of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Associations (APAPA) and assumed that anyone she recommended for a job came from the organization.
The congressman also told bureau agents that a significant portion of his Bay Area constituents were Chinese American and explained that “diversity is important,” when discussing Fang’s almost monthly visits to his office.
“The only difference between FANG and other organizational contacts, was that SWALWELL and FANG occasionally hooked up and ‘FANG had a thing’ for him,” a report of a March 4, 2016, interview described Swalwell saying.
But the congressman denied both in a 2015 interview and the 2016 sitdown that he was aware of any scheme involving Fang that would have funneled money to his campaign through an intermediary.
As part of the investigation, Fang was introduced in early 2015 to an undercover bureau employee, who expressed interest in hosting a Swalwell fundraiser and donating to his re-election campaign in exchange for an internship for themselves or someone connected to them.
By that point, the investigation had advanced far enough that the donation to be used as bait to ensnare Fang and Swalwell had been approved by the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section — then run by future special counsel Jack Smith.
However, the sting was derailed when Fang “privately disclosed” suspicions that her contact was a “government agent” — and high-tailed it back to China weeks later, essentially ending the active FBI probe.
However, the bureau was able to conclude that Fang secured at least four “conduit campaign contributions” for Swalwell in 2013 and 2014.
Fang also asked one donor for a $5,000 contribution to Swalwell’s campaign in exchange for organizing a meeting with the congressman — and more than that for obtaining an internship slot.
The declassified FBI files were made available by the White House after Swalwell threatened to sue the bureau earlier this year over plans to release the information.
When the threats were made, the California Democrat was the frontrunner to the be the next governor of the Golden State — before allegations of sexual assault ended his campaign and forced his resignation from Congress in April.
Swalwell did not respond to a request for comment on the FBI disclosures.
