Former Rep. Eric Swalwell admitted to FBI investigators in 2015 that he had physical relations with Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, according to newly declassified documents released by the White House Government Transparency Task Force on Monday.
Swalwell, who exited Congress in April 2026, told the FBI that he met Fang in 2012 at an event recognizing the Chinese American community and had “physical relations with Fang on a handful of occasions, but never dated her or had a romantic relationship,” the documents note.
The FBI investigation, which ran between 2014 and 2017, examined whether Fang made illegal campaign contributions in exchange for internships in Swalwell’s offices. The probe found no evidence of a quid pro quo exchange between Fang and Swalwell or his office, but it determined she violated other criminal laws, including international bulk cash smuggling and acting as an unregistered foreign agent, according to The Hill.
Fang left the United States and has been barred from reentry. Officials determined prosecution was “non-viable due to national security reasons,” the declassified documents state.
The declassification comes months after Swalwell resigned from Congress and suspended his gubernatorial campaign in April 2026 amid multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. The San Francisco Chronicle published accusations from a former aide that Swalwell sexually assaulted her on two occasions, and CNN reported three other women making separate allegations of sexual misconduct.
The House Ethics Committee had concluded a two-year investigation into Swalwell’s interactions with the suspected Chinese spy in May 2023 and determined it would take no further action, according to NBC News. The committee’s closure of the investigation occurred before the recent declassification.
Swalwell’s lawyer, Sara Azari, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the newly released documents reveal “nothing new” and alleged political retaliation. “What is new and deeply concerning is the apparent use of federal law enforcement information to punish an outspoken critic of the current administration,” Azari stated. “An investigation that produced no charges and no finding of wrongdoing should not be resurrected years later as a vehicle for political retaliation.”
The relationship with Fang first became public in December 2020, when Axios reported that a suspected Chinese intelligence operative had developed extensive ties with California politicians, including Swalwell and Rep. Ro Khanna. At that time, Swalwell acknowledged meeting Fang but declined to discuss details of their relationship publicly.
The declassified documents were heavily redacted but provided the first public confirmation of Swalwell’s 2015 admission to the FBI. The release marks the latest in a series of declassifications by the White House Government Transparency Task Force since 2026.
Sources
- The Hill — Swalwell’s admission to FBI investigators, details of the investigation, House Ethics Committee closure, and Swalwell’s lawyer’s statement
- NBC News — House Ethics Committee investigation conclusion in May 2023
- AP News — Swalwell’s resignation from Congress in April 2026
- Axios — Initial reporting on Fang’s ties to California politicians in December 2020
