New York Post By Steven Nelson and Ebony Bowden
House Intelligence Committee Republicans were surprised to learn this week that a member of their panel, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, was targeted by a suspected Chinese spy who slept with US politicians as a tactic to elicit information.
Swalwell, who represents a California district south of Oakland, received an FBI “defensive briefing” in 2015 on operative Fang Fang, but most if not all Republicans on the elite committee weren’t told that a colleague had been targeted by China.
Fang, also known as Christine Fang, returned to China in mid-2015 as US officials heightened their scrutiny of her string of honey-trap seductions. She reportedly fundraised for Swalwell’s 2014 re-election campaign before he joined the Intelligence Committee in 2015.
A congressional Republican source told The Post that Intelligence Committee Republicans had not been informed of the relationship.
The committee is supposed to have access to some of the nation’s most sensitive information to fulfill its oversight role of shadowy government programs.
If the Chinese operation occurred as described in a bombshell Tuesday article in Axios, it’s unclear why lawmakers aside from Swalwell were kept in the dark, especially since Fang may have targeted Swalwell due to his proximity to sensitive information.
The Post asked Swalwell’s 12 Democratic colleagues on the Intelligence Committee, including Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), about when they learned of Swalwell’s association with Fang, but they did not immediately reply.
Swalwell has not said if he had a romantic relationship with Fang, who allegedly seduced two Midwest mayors as part of her operation from 2011 to 2015. He claimed in a Wednesday CNN appearance that he “can’t talk too much about the details of the case” because the information should be kept secret.
The issue is likely to dog Swalwell as Republicans demand more information.
“Did Schiff and [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi know? Why did no one take any steps to keep sensitive intel, at least as it relates to China, far away from a member who is at best potentially compromised?” a Republican close to the White House told The Post.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) asked in a Tuesday evening Fox News interview, “Did Nancy Pelosi know this had transpired when she put him on the committee?”
Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Pelosi (D-Calif.), declined to say when she learned of the relationship. “We cannot further comment on or confirm or deny any such briefings or notifications,” he said.
But Hammill told The Post that Swalwell is still expected to retain his position on the committee when the next session of Congress begins in January.
“Minority Leader McCarthy is trying to distract from his continued kowtowing to QAnon and his refusal to heed the call of the Anti-Defamation League to refuse to seat his QAnon members on congressional committees, including critical national security committees,” Hammill claimed.
“The speaker has full confidence in Congressman Swalwell’s service in the Congress and on the Intelligence Committee,” Hammill added.
So, what else is new? This whole thing will go no further than any other criminal Activity by the Democrat’s! It’s sickening what they get away with in plain sight, and are never held accountable! The swamp. septic tank is full of these creatures…they look and smell just like they are! Why has not the liberal press been sued over not reporting, and or distorting truths to the American People for political criminal Activity? The Liberal Pres is Public Enemy Number One! Lies, distortion, and abetting the Criminal politicians are actions that require arrests and indictments!