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China-Japan-Koreas

Swalwell, California politicians targeted by Chinese spy: report

2020-12-09

[TheHill] A woman suspected of being a Chinese intelligence operative allegedly targeted several local and national politicians in the first half of the last decade, including Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), according to a report from Axios.

The woman, Fang Fang or Christine Fang, reportedly specifically attempted to curry influence with Bay Area politicians from 2011 to 2015, including participating in fundraising for Swalwell’s 2014 reelection campaign, according to the publication.

She is not believed to have obtained any classified information, but "there were some really, really sensitive people that were caught up," a senior U.S. intelligence official told Axios. Foreign nationals are barred from donating to campaigns and Federal Election Commission records show no indication she donated to Swalwell.

A spokesperson for Swalwell said the California congressman had already cooperated with federal investigations into Fang.

"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," Swalwell’s office said in a statement to Axios. "To protect information that might be classified, he will not participate in your story."

Swalwell reportedly received a defensive briefing from the FBI as they accelerated their investigation into Fang. He reportedly immediately cut ties to her and is not accused of any wrongdoing in connection with her alleged activities, a current U.S. intelligence official told Axios.

Fang, who reportedly helped place at least one intern in Swalwell’s office, is believed to have overseen subagents through such efforts, many of whom did not realize they were part of the operation. She left the country in 2015 amid the investigation.

She also reportedly attempted similar influence operations on other Bay Area politicians, volunteering for Rep. Ro Khanna’s (D) failed 2014 campaign.

Khanna’s office has said he did not receive an FBI briefing like Swalwell’s and that her name does not appear in records of the 2014 campaign staff. Fang has been photographed with several California politicians, including Swalwell, Khanna, then-Rep. Mike Honda (D) and Rep. Judy Chu (D).

Over a three-year period, two officials told Axios she also had romantic relationships with at least two Midwestern mayors. At least two sexual interactions between Fang and elected officials were allegedly recorded during FBI surveillance, according to Axios.

Posted by:Beavis

#19 Color me prim and constipated as usual... guess that really oughta be "screwed."

Posted by: Zenobia whatever 2020-12-09 23:58

#18 In Kowloon by the light of the moon,
A new woman wooed, none too soon!
She was out of his league,
But he'd yarbles like Queeg,
And he had her at "Yoo-hoo, Ms. Poon?"

Posted by: Zenobia whatever 2020-12-09 23:53

#17 Apparently successfully, seems like they got to Barr and Durham as well.

Posted by: Seeking Cure For Ignorance 2020-12-09 22:37

#16 ^ hope. at last

Posted by: Pheating Whinemble8269 2020-12-09 22:22

#15 Ohh finally, consequences for a Democrat. Some news are reporting that Former Presidential candidate Eric Swalwell removed from House Intelligence Committee.

Posted by: Ulavirong Omeager2818 2020-12-09 22:09

#14 Mehh... she's a Michelle Yeoh knockoff.

Posted by: Dron66046 2020-12-09 21:04

#13 cutlery

Posted by: Frank G 2020-12-09 19:39

#12 Guys know their relative appeal. When she's way hotter than you deserve, watch your wallet/integrity/ or the cutle

Posted by: Frank G 2020-12-09 19:21

#11 If she is better looking that any girl you have ever been with and she is all over you, then you know shew wants something. Swalwell was an easy target. Now the question is how much was compromised. As much as I dislike this fraud, he is a victim here. Lets see how he handles it. The Chinese can get to just about anyone if they try, he was low hanging fruit...

Posted by: 49 Pan 2020-12-09 19:14

#10 "...she could have had me, too."

There's a reason we mention Honey Pots in our defensive CI briefings. It works and always will.

Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2020-12-09 18:48

#9 I am sure he gave her access to his laptop info to impress her along the way.

Posted by: Ebbomoger Speaking for Boskone4589 2020-12-09 18:00

#8 Swalwell is on the House Intelligence Committe, privy to this nation's highest secrets. A ripe, dumb target.

Committee assignments

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Subcommittee on Intelligence Modernization and Readiness (Chair)
Subcommittee on Strategic Technologies and Advanced Research
Committee on the Judiciary
Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property
Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law

Posted by: Ulavirong Omeager2818 2020-12-09 16:50

#7 Four years makes him a significant source for her, and a dweeb like that had to know he was getting her attention for something other than himself. I want to know how this stayed in the shadows until now? Are there any honest people left with in journalism? Chicom penetration every where you look it seems.

Posted by: NoMoreBS 2020-12-09 16:18

#6 "Targeted"

I guess to be fair, when he said he would nuke Americans, he meant with Chinese nukes.

Posted by: swksvolFF 2020-12-09 16:16

#5 Maybe he is.

"I can't tell you about my Hot Asian Girlfriend. It's all classified."

Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2020-12-09 14:12

#4 Four year relationship means she was successful in getting info from Swalwell. Spys don't stick around if they are not productive.
I didn't know much about Swalwell, thought he was gay, turns out I was wrong.

Posted by: Waldemar Pelosi4537 2020-12-09 13:47

#3 Fang Fang? More like Bang Bang.

I always wondered how so many really disgusting seamy politicians got elected? Who in their right mind would vote for these people?

With each daily election-rigging news about our recent election, it becomes clear that many of these people weren't elected.

Posted by: JohnQC 2020-12-09 12:59

#2 To be fair, given the pictures of her, she could have had me, too.

Posted by: Mercutio 2020-12-09 09:20

#1 Fang Fang, meet Fart Fart.
"How do you fang?"
"How do you fart?"

Q: How much graft could a Swalwell swill if the Congress-fart had congress with a chink tart's pink?

A: A Swalwell will swill, what a windy swindler will swindle, if Sino Fang-Fang make sign o' bang-bang with swank skank pink chink.

Ho Ho Ho [Chi Minh & Kamal-Ho]!!
Melly Chlissmas!!

Posted by: Kofi Splat6905 2020-12-09 04:50

00:00