As Dublin Councilman, Swalwell Targeted By Chinese Spy: Report

DUBLIN, CA — As a Dublin city councilmember, U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was targeted by a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy, Axios reported this week.

The Axios investigation determined that Swalwell was one of many potential rising stars in local politics who were targeted by a Chinese national named Fang Fang or Christine Fang. She infiltrated political circles in the Golden State and beyond through contributions, political organizing, personal relationships and more, but hurriedly left the country in 2015, after the Federal Bureau of Investigation began conducting surveillance on her and notifying her contacts of her suspected behavior, Axios reported.

Swalwell declined to comment for the report citing a need to protect classified information, but his office said in a statement that he cooperated with the FBI and has not been in contact with Fang in nearly six years.

Then-Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison, who also knew Fang, told Axios that the FBI said Fang's activities were part of a "long game play ... to strike up a relationship with you and see if you move up the line."

The news prompted House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to call Swalwell a "national security liability" who "has long been disqualified from serving" the House Intelligence Committee on Twitter.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was quick to strike back, saying she had no concerns about Swalwell and has known about the matter in 2015, at the same time Swalwell was informed about Fang, Politico reported.

“I do think that it is unfortunate that Mr. McCarthy is trying to make an issue of this,” she told Politico.

Fang also knew former Cupertino Mayor Gilbert Wong and helped with a U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) fundraiser, Axios reported. She also appeared in photos with U.S. Rep Judy Chu (D-CA), then-U.S. Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), and engaged in romantic and sexual relationships with at least two unnamed midwestern mayors, according to the report.

No charges have been filed against Fang, Axios reported.

Read the Axios report here.