Declassified FBI documents released Monday by the White House Government Transparency Task Force confirm that former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) admitted to federal agents in 2015 and 2016 that he had a sexual relationship with Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative known as "Fang Fang." The records also detail the FBI's prior attempt to recruit Fang as a double agent in 2013.
Swalwell, who served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, was removed from the committee by Republicans in 2015 but later reinstated by Democrats. The newly released documents provide the first official confirmation of the affair, which Swalwell had never publicly acknowledged.
Immediate Confirmation of Key Facts
The FBI interviews with Swalwell, conducted in May 2015 and March 2016, were part of a broader investigation into Fang's alleged activities, including illicit campaign contributions, funneling interns to Swalwell's office, and suspected ties to China's Ministry of State Security (MSS). During the first interview, Swalwell stated he had "physical relations" with Fang on a "handful of occasions," with their last encounter occurring in March 2015. In the second interview, he described an incident where Fang arrived at his apartment unannounced while he was under the influence of a sleep medication, though he recalled little of the encounter.
Swalwell characterized the relationship as casual and non-romantic, telling agents he believed Fang "may have wanted a more romantic relationship." He also denied providing classified information or favors in exchange for their interactions. The FBI memo from 2013 noted that Fang joked about her suspected MSS affiliation, remarking that the agency would hire prostitutes rather than use an officer like herself to entice officials.
Background: The FBI's Recruitment Attempt
The declassified documents reveal that the FBI first attempted to recruit Fang as an informant in 2013, prior to discovering her relationship with Swalwell. An FBI memo from that year quoted Swalwell joking that Fang was associated with the "Chinese CIA"—a reference to the MSS. Fang reportedly dismissed the idea, stating that MSS officers were either "old men or ladies" and that she could not be an intelligence operative.
The FBI's investigation into Fang's activities expanded over time, culminating in interviews with Swalwell where he admitted to the affair. The documents do not indicate whether Fang was ultimately recruited as an informant. Swalwell resigned from Congress in April 2020 amid unrelated sexual misconduct allegations involving a former staffer.
Broader Context: China's Alleged Influence Efforts
The newly released files are part of a larger set of documents that, according to a senior administration official, paint a broader picture of China's efforts to influence U.S. politics through multiple avenues, including sexual enticement, campaign donations, and the placement of interns in political offices. The official noted that the Chinese regime pursues these strategies persistently, though the documents do not provide additional details on other alleged cases.
Swalwell has not publicly commented on the affair since the documents were declassified. The FBI declined to provide further details on the investigation or its ongoing efforts to assess foreign influence operations.