Swalwell Admits: I Slept With Alleged Chinese Spy Fang Fang Multiple Times
Newly Released FBI Files Reveal Congressman’s Relationship with Suspected Chinese Spy
Key Takeaway: Recently declassified FBI documents show that former Congressman Eric Swalwell admitted to having a physical relationship with a woman the FBI believed was a Chinese intelligence operative. The files also reveal she allegedly funneled illegal foreign money into his campaign and tried to place interns in his office.
What Happened?
In simple terms: The FBI investigated a woman named Christine Fang (nicknamed "Fang Fang") because they thought she was secretly working for the Chinese government. During that investigation, they interviewed Congressman Eric Swalwell twice — once in 2015 and again in 2016. Those interviews were kept secret until now, when President Trump declassified them and the White House released them to the public.
Who Is Involved?
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| Eric Swalwell | Former U.S. Representative from California (Democrat), served in Congress from 2013–2023 |
| Christine "Fang Fang" Fang | A Chinese national living in the U.S., suspected by the FBI of being an intelligence operative for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) |
| FBI | Federal Bureau of Investigation — the main federal law enforcement agency in the U.S. |
| White House Government Transparency Task Force | A group created to declassify and release government records to the public |
What Did the FBI Files Reveal?
1. Swalwell Admitted to a Physical Relationship
- In his first interview (May 2015), Swalwell told agents he had "physical relations" with Fang Fang on a "handful of occasions."
- Their last encounter was in March 2015 — after he was already in Congress.
- In the second interview (March 2016), he described more details:
- Fang showed up at his apartment banging on the door.
- He had taken Ambien (a strong sleep medication) and barely remembered what happened.
- The FBI summary noted: "Swalwell barely remembers the event because he had taken Ambien prior to Fang arriving."
Important: Swalwell said the relationship was "casual" and they "never dated" or had a "romantic relationship." But he believed Fang "may have wanted a more romantic relationship."
2. Fang Fang Allegedly Broke Campaign Finance Laws
The FBI found evidence that Fang Fang:
- Used fake donors (called "conduits") to hide that she — a foreign national — was the real source of campaign donations.
- Orchestrated at least 4 illegal contributions to Swalwell’s campaign:
- Twice in 2013
- Twice in 2014
- This is illegal because foreign nationals cannot donate to U.S. political campaigns.
Callout: What Is a "Conduit Contribution"?
It’s when someone gives money to another person to donate on their behalf — to hide the true source. It’s like asking a friend to buy you a ticket so it looks like they bought it, not you. In politics, this is a federal crime when used to hide foreign money.
3. Fang Fang Helped Place Interns in Swalwell’s Office
- Fang referred prospective interns to Swalwell’s congressional office.
- Swalwell told the FBI he thought these interns came through APAPA (Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association), a group Fang was connected to.
- The FBI investigated whether Fang traded internships for campaign donations — a "quid pro quo" (something for something).
- Result: The FBI did not find evidence that Swalwell knew about or participated in any corrupt exchange.
4. The FBI Tried to Recruit Fang Fang as a Secret Informant
- The FBI gave her the codename: "RUSTY THUMBS"
- They suspected she had ties to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) — China’s main intelligence agency.
- Her parents were reportedly known Chinese intelligence officers.
5. Fang Fang Pushed Swalwell to Visit China
- During the 2016 interview, Swalwell said Fang "would generally mention that Swalwell should go to China."
- She even invited someone in his circle to China at a 2014 election-night party.
6. Swalwell Cut Ties After FBI Warning
- In late April 2015, the FBI gave Swalwell a "defensive briefing" — a warning that Fang Fang was likely a foreign intelligence threat.
- After that, Swalwell told agents he cut off all contact with her.
- The FBI removed him as a subject of the investigation in 2017.
- However, the FBI did find evidence that Fang Fang herself violated federal election laws.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Swalwell meets Fang Fang; they have a drink together |
| 2013–2014 | Fang Fang allegedly funnels illegal foreign donations to Swalwell’s campaign via conduits |
| March 2015 | Last known physical encounter between Swalwell and Fang Fang |
| April 2015 | FBI gives Swalwell a defensive briefing about Fang Fang’s suspected ties to Chinese intelligence |
| May 2015 | First FBI interview with Swalwell (Oakland field office) |
| March 2016 | Second FBI interview with Swalwell (same location) |
| 2017 | FBI removes Swalwell as investigation subject |
| August 2026 | President Trump declassifies the records; White House releases them publicly |
Summary
- Former Congressman Eric Swalwell admitted to FBI agents that he had a casual physical relationship with Christine "Fang Fang" Fang, a woman the FBI suspected was a Chinese intelligence operative.
- The relationship included multiple encounters, one involving Ambien, which left Swalwell with little memory.
- Fang Fang allegedly broke U.S. election laws by using fake donors to hide foreign campaign contributions to Swalwell — at least four times in 2013–2014.
- She also referred interns to his office, though the FBI found no proof Swalwell traded favors for donations.
- The FBI tried to recruit Fang as a secret source (codename: RUSTY THUMBS) and warned Swalwell about her in April 2015.
- Swalwell cut ties with her after that warning and was cleared of wrongdoing in 2017.
- The records were declassified by President Trump and released in August 2026 as part of efforts to expose foreign interference in U.S. elections.
FAQ
Was Eric Swalwell charged with a crime?
No. The FBI investigated him but found no evidence he committed federal corruption violations or participated in a quid-pro-quo scheme. He was removed as a subject of the investigation in 2017.
What did Fang Fang do that was illegal?
She allegedly used "conduit contributions" — fake donors — to hide that she, a foreign national, was the real source of campaign donations to Swalwell. That violates federal election law, which bans foreign nationals from donating to U.S. campaigns.
Did Swalwell know the donations were illegal?
The FBI did not find evidence that Swalwell knew the donations came from Fang Fang or were funneled illegally. He told agents he believed the interns and support came through a legitimate community group (APAPA).
Why did the FBI warn Swalwell about Fang Fang?
Because they suspected she was working for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) — essentially, a spy. Her parents were reportedly known Chinese intelligence officers. The FBI gave him a "defensive briefing" so he could protect himself.
Why are these records coming out now?
President Trump declassified them in 2026, and the White House Government Transparency Task Force released them as part of a broader effort to expose foreign threats to U.S. elections and political systems.
Final Thought: This story shows how foreign intelligence operations can try to infiltrate U.S. politics — not just through hacking, but through personal relationships, money, and access. It also highlights the importance of FBI defensive briefings in helping elected officials recognize and reject such threats.