The FBI spent months trying to turn a suspected Chinese intelligence operative into a confidential informant, then shut the effort down and opened a criminal investigation into the California congressman she had been sleeping with.
FBI files declassified by President Donald Trump and released by the White House Government Transparency Task Force detail the decade-old relationship between former Rep. Eric Swalwell and Christine Fang, known as Fang Fang (FBI codename 'Rusty Thumbs'), who the bureau assessed was likely operating on behalf of China's Ministry of State Security, Just the News reports.
The memos describe Fang cultivating Swalwell through sexual encounters, intern referrals into his congressional offices, and campaign contributions routed through American conduits to conceal her status as a prohibited foreign national. Investigators cleared Swalwell of criminal wrongdoing in 2017. Fang was never charged.
Among the findings:
- Scope of the Investigation: The FBI initially considered investigating Swalwell for bribery involving internship placements exchanged for campaign contributions, but ultimately narrowed the case to pursue criminal charges solely against Fang for conduit donation schemes.
- Swalwell's Admissions: Swalwell admitted to having a sexual relationship with Fang, allowing his staff to place her referred interns in congressional offices, and maintaining insufficient campaign finance controls to detect her alleged straw donations.
- Prosecution Decisions: The Department of Justice declined to prosecute Fang after she fled the country while the FBI interviewed her associates and searched her residence. Prosecutor Jack Smith oversaw early stages of the investigation.
- Informant Recruitment Attempt: Prior to opening the criminal probe under codename "Freshman Fifteen," the FBI assigned Fang the codename "Rusty Thumbs" and sought to recruit her as a confidential informant using an undercover agent and a front company.
- Assessed Intelligence Ties: FBI records from early in the case identified Fang's parents as MSS intelligence officers, assessed that Fang herself likely operated on the ministry's behalf, and described her targeting California politicians through networking and romantic relationships.
During FBI interviews in 2015 and 2016, Swalwell acknowledged meeting Fang during his initial 2012 congressional campaign and admitted to multiple sexual encounters with her. He confirmed that Fang referred several interns to his campaign and congressional offices, explaining that he treated her referrals as coming from the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) organization.
Swalwell also disclosed concerns regarding internal campaign finance compliance, telling agents he previously warned a staffer at a 2014 Las Vegas fundraiser to improve reporting accuracy, admitting administrative paperwork was not the staffer's strength.
And, how could we not bring up the fact that after banging an alleged Chinese spy who placed interns in his office, Swalwell would go on to become one of the most aggressive public voices claiming Trump was compromised by Russia.
Axios first reported Fang's efforts to influence U.S. politicians in 2020, revealing that intelligence officials believed she targeted Bay Area politicians through networking, charisma, fundraising, and personal relationships - with Swalwell identified as a primary target.
Swalwell's office maintained that he cooperated fully with federal law enforcement, stating in 2020 that he provided information to the FBI years prior and ceased contact with Fang. The newly released FBI interview summaries confirm that Swalwell cooperated with investigators.
In March 2026, Swalwell's attorneys sent a cease-and-desist letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, demanding the bureau withhold the investigative files and threatening legal action. "The Congressman has never been accused of wrongdoing in that matter, and your attempt to release the file is a transparent attempt to smear him and undermine his campaign for Governor of California," wrote attorneys Norm Eisen and Sean Hecker.
The campaign referenced in that letter no longer exists. Swalwell suspended his gubernatorial bid on April 12 amid sexual misconduct allegations from several women, announced his resignation from Congress the following day, and left office on April 14.
The FBI officially opened its investigation into Swalwell and Fang on March 17, 2014, under the codename "Freshman Fifteen." A declassified "Interim Authority" memorandum shows the investigation centered on allegations that Swalwell awarded congressional internships in exchange for campaign contributions, with Fang facilitating the arrangement through conduit donors.
According to the memo, Fang facilitated "a scheme to trade access to Swalwell and internships in his congressional office in return for campaign contributions," using illegal conduits to conceal her identity as a prohibited foreign national at least twice in 2013 and twice in 2014. FBI agents traced the 2013 contributions directly back to Fang.
Memos also document instances where Fang directly solicited contributions while offering reimbursement from her personal funds. In March 2015, an FBI Confidential Human Source (CHS) made a $1,000 credit card contribution to Swalwell's campaign at Fang's request as part of an authorized undercover operation. An FBI-302 summary also records that Fang asked a business associate to bring a checkbook to a 2014 Swalwell fundraiser, promising reimbursement; the associate declined.