Who Is Christine Aka ‘Fang Fang’, Suspected Chinese Spy Tied To Rep Eric Swalwell?

Democrats defended President Joe Biden amid criticism over the recently granted pardon for his son, Hunter Biden. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) supported Biden, responding to GOP critics. Swalwell said, “If you defended the 34x felon… you can sit out the Hunter Biden pardon discussion.”

Swalwell’s comments, however, reopened investigations into his previous connections to Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence agent. After Swalwell stood up for the president, her name became popular on social media.

Between 2011 and 2015, Christine Fang, also called Fang Fang, was accused of being a Chinese government agent. According to U.S. authorities, she was employed by China’s civilian intelligence organization. Fang developed contacts with U.S. politicians as part of a larger political intelligence operation, including congressmen, mayors, and council members.

Axios’s investigation exposed Fang’s tactics. She solicited money, made connections with lawmakers, and suggested candidates for their positions. Her behavior provided a unique window into Beijing’s tactics for penetrating American political circles.

When Fang apparently departed the US in 2015, her activities supposedly came to an end. Over the course of several U.S. administrations, counterintelligence activities have continued to center on concerns over Chinese influence operations.

Swalwell was exactly the type of politician that a spy in Fang’s shoes would seek out, according to Axios. Axios stated that it was part of China’s “long game” to establish a footing with an up-and-coming company in order to influence U.S. policy more broadly in the future.

In 2020, Fang’s connections to Swalwell attracted a lot of attention. According to a Forbes report, she was a well-known fundraiser for Swalwell’s 2014 reelection campaign. To further demonstrate her authority, Fang suggested a candidate for Swalwell’s congressional position.

According to Forbes, Fang encouraged contributors to make large contributions by acting as a campaign “bundler.” After learning about Fang’s alleged espionage operations from the FBI, Swalwell cut off all communication with her. No proof was discovered by authorities that Swalwell was aware of Fang’s purported spying activities.

Amid an ongoing intelligence probe, Fang unexpectedly left the United States in 2015. Republicans raised concerns about Swalwell’s continuing membership on the House Intelligence Committee despite her resignation.

House Ethics Committee Clears Swalwell

The House Ethics Committee’s two-year investigation of Swalwell’s connections with Fang came to an end in 2023, as The Hill reported. The committee told Swalwell in secret of their decision to forgo further action. No infractions were discovered throughout the inquiry, and Swalwell was not accused of any misconduct. However, political rivals continue to often bring up the episode.