2 weeks ago
Declassified FBI records detail alleged Chinese spy Fang Fang, Swalwell
Fang Fang was a woman who lived in the United States and was suspected of being a spy for China.
She became friends with a congressman named Eric Swalwell.
The FBI, which is the agency that investigates crimes, looked into whether people gave money to Swalwell's campaign to get internships in his office.
The FBI could not prove that part of the story.
But the FBI found other suspicious things Fang did, like taking money from foreign people and hiding records.
Fang left the United States and is not allowed to come back.
The FBI closed the case for national security reasons, which means they kept some information secret to protect the country.
Swalwell said he did not know about any wrongdoing.
He was later removed from an important committee in Congress.
The government recently released the secret files so the public could read them.
The White House declassified FBI records from a three-year investigation into former Rep. Eric Swalwell and alleged Chinese spy Fang Fang.
The undercover investigation, codenamed "Freshman Fifteen," ran from May 2014 to May 2017 and examined alleged campaign contributions in exchange for congressional internships.
FBI memos allege Fang solicited illegal straw donations from foreign nationals, destroyed records, made false statements, smuggled cash, and operated as an unregistered foreign agent for China.
The FBI was unable to substantiate allegations of an improper exchange, and prosecution was deemed non-viable for national security reasons; Fang left the US and was barred from re-entry.
Swalwell, who said he was intimate with Fang at least twice, was removed from the House Intelligence Committee by Kevin McCarthy in January 2023 after Axios first reported the relationship in December 2020.
- Who
- Fang Fang (Christine Fang), an alleged Chinese spy, and former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.)
- What
- Declassified FBI records detail a three-year investigation into alleged illegal campaign contributions and espionage ties between Swalwell and Fang.
- Where
- United States, centered on Swalwell's Bay Area, California, district; Fang later left the US.
- When
- The investigation ran from May 2014 to May 2017; the records were declassified on Monday.
- Why
- Intelligence indicated internships in Swalwell's offices were promised in exchange for campaign contributions; the case was closed for national security reasons.
Swalwell's Account
FBI Investigation Findings
Knowledge of campaign finance scheme
Swalwell's Account
Swalwell said during 2015 and 2016 interviews that he did not know about any scheme involving Fang to route campaign funds through an intermediary.
FBI Investigation Findings
An FBI memo alleged that internships in Swalwell's offices were promised in exchange for campaign contributions that were conduited through third parties to mask donor identity.
Nature of the relationship
Swalwell's Account
Swalwell said he regarded Fang as his primary contact with the local APAPA chapter and cited the importance of diversity in explaining her frequent office visits.
FBI Investigation Findings
Swalwell and his associates told the FBI they viewed Fang as a potential spy for the Chinese Communist Party, noting she never attended classes despite holding a student visa.
Key facts
- Investigation codename
- Freshman Fifteen
- Investigation period
- May 2014 - May 2017
- Key FBI memo dates
- June 10, 2014; May 2017
- Allegations against Fang Fang
- Illegal straw donations, destroyed records, false statements, smuggled cash, unregistered foreign agent
- Reason case closed
- National security reasons
- Fang Fang's status
- Left the US; barred from re-entry
- Swalwell's committee removal
- Removed from House Intelligence Committee in January 2023 by Kevin McCarthy
- First report of relationship
- Axios, December 2020
Quotes
Eric Swalwell
Former U.S. Representative
“barely remember what happened afterward.”
livemint.com
“diversity is important”
livemint.com
An interviewee
Person interviewed by the FBI, source of information on Fang
“She was very private and would frequently be gone without any explanation,”
livemint.com
Sources
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