Newly declassified FBI documents are shedding fresh light on the bureau’s investigation into former Rep. Eric Swalwell and Chinese national Fang Fang, revealing allegations involving illegal campaign contributions, congressional interns and a sexual relationship between the California Democrat and Fang.
The files were declassified by President Donald Trump and released Monday by the White House Government Transparency Task Force. They show the FBI opened a formal, predicated investigation into the matter.
The investigation, codenamed “Freshman Fifteen,” began in March 2014 and initially examined allegations that Swalwell exchanged congressional internships for campaign contributions facilitated by Fang.
According to the documents, investigators alleged Fang used U.S.-citizen conduits to conceal herself as the foreign source of campaign contributions. The FBI initially sought evidence that could lead to charges against both Swalwell and Fang.
Swalwell acknowledged during FBI interviews that he had “physical relations with Fang” multiple times after first meeting her during his 2012 congressional campaign. In a later interview, Swalwell described an occasion when Fang arrived at his door and the two “hooked up.”
Swalwell also confirmed Fang referred interns to his campaign and congressional offices. He told investigators that he and his staff viewed her referrals as connected to the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Associations, an important constituent organization in his district.
But after interviewing Swalwell multiple times, the FBI ultimately determined it had found no violations of federal law by the congressman. In February 2017, investigators removed Swalwell as a subject and focused exclusively on Fang’s alleged campaign finance violations.
Fang had already returned to China after the FBI interviewed her associates and searched her home. When the investigation was formally closed, the FBI said it had uncovered evidence that Fang violated several laws involving illegal donations and other alleged conduct. She had also been barred from re-entering the United States.
The documents reveal another twist: Before investigating Fang, the FBI had been trying to recruit her as an informant.
Agents gave Fang the codename “Rusty Thumbs” and used an undercover employee and fictitious company in an effort to recruit her to provide information about Chinese influence operations.
The FBI was also aware of Fang’s suspected connections to Chinese intelligence. One memo identified her parents as “known MSS intelligence officers,” while agents suspected Fang herself had ties to China’s Ministry of State Security.
Swalwell has maintained that he cooperated with the FBI investigation. Earlier this year, his attorneys threatened legal action and urged the bureau not to release the files, arguing that doing so would amount to an effort to smear him and undermine his campaign for California governor.
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