WASHINGTON — Federal agents seized electronic devices from former congressman Eric Swalwell at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, then executed a search warrant at his Washington, D.C., home the following day, marking a significant escalation of a federal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.
Swalwell was not arrested, and no criminal charges have been filed. The FBI has not publicly disclosed what agents were seeking or which potential federal offences are under investigation.
The weekend operation occurred immediately before a White House office released explosive declassified FBI interview summaries and counterintelligence records concerning Swalwell’s relationship with Christine Fang, a Chinese student whom the bureau suspected of having ties to China’s Ministry of State Security. Those records describe Swalwell’s sexual relationship with Fang, as well as separate FBI scrutiny of campaign donations and congressional internships connected to her work around his political operation.
Despite the striking timing, no public evidence has connected the weekend searches to the historical Fang investigation. Media reports indicate that the current federal action concerns allegations of sexual misconduct made by a number of women.
The Associated Press reported that the devices were seized and the home searched as part of that investigation. Its source spoke anonymously because the inquiry remains active.
Swalwell resigned from Congress in April and abandoned what had been a leading campaign for governor of California after four women accused him of sexual assault or other misconduct. One of the most serious allegations came from a former congressional staffer who told the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN that Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice—once while she worked for him and again at a New York hotel in 2024. CNN subsequently reported that more than a dozen additional women described encounters with Swalwell that made them uncomfortable, including sexually explicit social-media messages and alleged attempts to draw women into hotel rooms.
His lawyer said Swalwell categorically denied every allegation of misconduct or assault.
Declassified files expose Fang relationship
The newly released counter-intelligence records provide far more detail about Swalwell’s relationship with Christine Fang, who was also known as Fang Fang.
As The Bureau previously reported, an underlying FBI investigation identified Fang as having suspected Ministry of State Security ties. Her parents were classified internally as known officers of the Chinese intelligence service.
Beginning in 2013, undercover FBI employees constructed a fictitious commercial relationship around Fang in an attempt to recruit her as an American intelligence source. Agents believed her access to Chinese government circles and rising American politicians across California could make her valuable in reporting on Beijing’s influence operations.
The operation produced records of Fang discussing political donations, immigration concerns and her access to prominent figures in China and the United States.
During one discussion, Fang described Swalwell’s campaign as short of money. She said she understood that she could not legally contribute as a foreign national but was skilled at persuading others to donate. Fang suggested that clients of the FBI-controlled company contribute to Swalwell, saying donations could be “a good way to create influence.”
The FBI subsequently opened a criminal investigation, code-named Freshman Fifteen, into whether Fang facilitated prohibited campaign contributions through American intermediaries and whether political access or congressional internships had been offered in exchange.
The files show that Fang introduced candidates seeking internships in Swalwell’s political operation. One obtained a position in his congressional office, while another worked periodically in his campaign office.
The records also show that Swalwell told investigators in May 2015 that he had physical relations with Fang “on a handful of occasions.” A later FBI interview summarized his account of an encounter after Fang allegedly arrived unannounced at his apartment while he had taken the prescription sleep medication Ambien.
Investigators did not establish a criminal quid pro quo involving Swalwell. A 2017 FBI memorandum said the investigation had not found violations of federal corruption laws by the congressman.
Swalwell’s attorney, Sara Azari, has argued that the files vindicate him because investigators found no basis to charge him. She accused the Trump administration of releasing the material for political retaliation.
The records nevertheless expand the public account established when Axios first exposed Fang’s political network in 2020. That investigation reported that American counterintelligence officials believed Fang had cultivated rising politicians as part of a long-term Chinese intelligence operation.
Swalwell’s need for sex indicates a psychiatric illness…there are words for this perversion! Seems like the political arena in many countries is a gathering place for corruption and perverts of all shapes and colours! Canada and US have an impressive share of these types - that live off taxpayer money with little or no ability to do an honest day’s work in the real outside world!!
Wonder why the world is going to hell in a hand-basket?? Let’s try electing straight well adjusted men and women into the governing positions of our country!! Of all countries!!