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It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy than Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif.
A suspected Chinese intelligence operative — see communist spy — got so close to the smarmy attention-seeking Democratic lawmaker that the FBI had to intervene to clue him in to the fact that he was being exploited. Swalwell was a 2020 Democratic candidate for the White House, as you may recall.
The alleged spy, Chinese national Christine Fang, was part of an operation between 2011 and 2015 targeting up-and-coming local politicians in the Bay Area and across the country who had the potential to make it big on the national stage, Axios reported.
Through campaign fundraising, networking, personal charisma, romantic or sexual relationships, Fang manipulated politicians to gain proximity to political power, the article noted.
Exclusive: A suspected Chinese intelligence operative bundled donations for Eric Swalwell’s 2014 re-election campaign.
The operation targeted politicians in California & across the country.
Read Axios' year-long investigation, by me and @zachsdorfman: https://t.co/kY4BHIAvZh
— B. Allen-Ebrahimian (@BethanyAllenEbr) December 8, 2020
Swalwell was among Fang’s “most significant targets,” with the relationship starting when he was a councilmember for Dublin City, Calif, — this being an indication of the long game China is engaged in.
More from Axios on that relationship:
- Fang took part in fundraising activity for Swalwell’s 2014 re-election campaign, according to a Bay Area political operative and a current U.S. intelligence official. Swalwell’s office was directly aware of these activities on its behalf, the political operative said. That same political operative, who witnessed Fang fundraising on Swalwell’s behalf, found no evidence of illegal contributions.
- Fang helped place at least one intern in Swalwell’s office, according to those same two people, and interacted with Swalwell at multiple events over the course of several years.
After a defensive briefing by the bureau, Swalwell reportedly cut off all ties to Fang — he has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
According to Axios, Fang also helped with a 2013 fundraiser for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, and appeared in photos over the years with a host of California politicians, including Swalwell, Reps. Ro Khanna and Judy Chu, both Democrats and then-Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif.
One might argue there’s a reason the ChiComs appeared to target only Democratic politicians.
“Rep. Swalwell, long ago, provided information about this person — whom he met more than eight years ago, and whom he hasn’t seen in nearly six years — to the FBI. To protect information that might be classified, he will not participate in your story,” Swalwell’s office said in a statement to Axios.
As for the fallout, there were immediate calls for Swalwell to resign, including from Richard Grenell, the former Acting Director of National Intelligence.
. @ericswalwell is a total hypocrite and should resign in disgrace. https://t.co/w85P2nJvnz
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) December 8, 2020
There was a call for him to step down from the House Intelligence Committee until it can be determined that China has nothing on him they could blackmail him over.
Count Donald Trump Jr. among those questioning why Swalwell would be allowed to remain on the committee — President Trump’s son said Swalwell was “sleeping with a Chinese spy,” though it was not reported that he had sex with Fang.
So Rep Swalwell who spent years saying I was an agent of Russia was literally sleeping with a Chinese spy at the time.
You can’t make this stuff up. How can this compromised individual/moron continue to sit on an intelligence committee? https://t.co/NkU6F5Ctre
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) December 8, 2020
Shown here: Eric Swalwell posing for a picture with his Chinese communist spy girlfriend. He needs to step down from House Intel until we find out what kind of blackmail material the Chinese communists have on him. pic.twitter.com/DQY5JLk91P
— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) December 8, 2020
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) needs to be immediately removed from the House Intelligence Committee https://t.co/EiFnisU6Hp
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) December 8, 2020
Swalwell’s name was trending online Tuesday as a result of the story — here’s a small sampling of responses from Twitter:
Democrats like Swalwell and Feinstein got the benefit of defensive briefings when it came to Chinese espionage against them. Trump did not get this kind of defensive briefing on Russia.
— Eli Lake (@EliLake) December 8, 2020
The Swalwell news basically just confirms that everything the Democrats were going after Trump for, they were actually just doing themselves.
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) December 8, 2020
Where’s Eric Swalwell?
— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) December 8, 2020
A Chinese spy bundled donations for Eric Swalwell’s campaign in 2014.
He was then appointed to the House intelligence committee after being elected that year.
But Russia…
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 8, 2020
So after a Chinese intelligence operative developed a relationship with Eric Swalwell, helped raise money for his campaign, and planted an intern in his office, Swalwell spread the Russia collusion hoax, which greatly benefited China.
— Matt Wolking (@MattWolking) December 8, 2020
So you’re telling me that the FBI knew that Dianne Feinstein employed a Chinese spy, and that another one infiltrated the campaigns of multiple Democrats including Eric Swalwell and Ro Khanna back in 2014-2015, but they spent many years investigating Donald Trump instead?
— Rising serpent 🇺🇸 (@rising_serpent) December 8, 2020
Lmao mr. Russia Russia Russia was duped by a Chinese spy….and keeps getting reelected.. amazing
— Dannhl (@dannhl) December 8, 2020
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Tom@bizpacreview.com
The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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