FBI finds Chinese student recruited to funnel illegal donations for Rep. Swalwell

Federal agents launched an undercover operation in 2014 after a tip alleged that internships in Eric Swalwell’s office were traded for campaign money. The investigation discovered that Christine Fang, also known as Fang Fang, illegally recruited foreign nationals to make straw donations, destroyed records, lied to officials, smuggled cash and functioned as an unregistered foreign agent, likely for China. Interviews with Swalwell and his circle did not substantiate a direct exchange of internships for contributions, and prosecutors later ruled the case unfit for trial due to national-security concerns.

The FBI’s sting, approved by the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section, collapsed when Fang warned a contact she suspected was a government agent and fled the country. Records indicate Fang arranged at least four conduit donations in 2013-14 and sought a $5,000 contribution for a meeting with the congressman. The declassified files were released after Swalwell threatened legal action, shortly before his gubernatorial bid ended amid unrelated allegations.