In a letter sent to Swalwell on Monday that the congressman released on his website the following day, the committee wrote that it will take no further action in the investigation into “allegations raised in the complaint that you may have violated House Rules, laws, or other standards of conduct in connection with your interactions with Ms. Christine Fang.” Per the letter, the investigation began in April 2021.
The House Ethics Committee closed its investigation into allegations that Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) had ties to a Chinese intelligence operative.
“The Committee has previously reviewed allegations of improper influence by foreign agents and in doing so, cautioned that Members should be conscious of the possibility that foreign governments may attempt to secure improper influence through gifts and other interactions,” the committee wrote to Swalwell, a former presidential hopeful who has served in the House since 2013. “We encourage you to contact the Office of House Security for any guidance on steps you can take to prevent or address such attempts.”
In December 2020, Axios china-spy-california-politicians-9d2dfb99-f839-4e00-8bd8-59dec0daf589.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported that Fang, a suspected Chinese spy, had been trying to get close to California politicians whom the Chinese government deemed up-and-coming. One of those politicians was Swalwell, who was photographed with the woman and other California politicians and former members of Congress at various political functions. Axios also reported that Fang had participated in fundraising events for Swalwell’s 2014 congressional campaign and that she suggested his office hire an intern, which it did.
Per Axios, U.S. officials don’t think Fang got classified information as she cozied up to politicians, including from Swalwell, and he was not accused of any wrongdoing. After U.S. intelligence officials briefed him in 2015 on their concerns about Fang, he cut ties with her. Swalwell said in a statement to Axios then that he provided information to the FBI about her and that he hasn’t interacted with her in six years. Fang has since left the country.