Swalwell Sends Cease-and-Desist to FBI Director

Eric Swalwell has sent a cease-and-desist letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, responding to threats regarding the release of investigative files related to a suspected Chinese spy who infiltrated his office.

In Swalwell’s letter, he, who is viewed as a leading contender in the gubernatorial race in California, urged the FBI to commit within three days not to disclose the files, warning of potential legal action, as reported by the Washington Post.

Earlier on Monday, Swalwell held a press conference asserting that “the case is closed” and labeled Patel as a “temporary employee” involved in a “horrible abuse of power” for probing into the files connected to him and Christine Huang.

Huang, also referred to as “Fan Phan,” is a student at California State University East Bay. She apparently struck up a conversation with Swalwell during an Axios event and previously organized campaign donations for him while suggesting an intern for his office.

According to Axios, officials from the Trump administration had instructed FBI agents to compile records from a long-term investigation into Swalwell’s relationship with Fang. Reports indicate that Huang departed the U.S. in 2015 after establishing connections with Swalwell and engaging romantically with two mayors from the Midwest.

Swalwell’s legal representatives, Sean Hecker and Norman L. Eisen, termed the FBI’s actions a “slanderous attempt” designed to damage his campaign for governor. They noted that releasing the files would contravene the Privacy Act of 1974, as detailed by The Washington Post.

In his letter, Swalwell asserted, “The Congressman has never been accused of wrongdoing in this matter, and your actions aim to smear him and undermine his campaign for California Governor.” He also highlighted that those actions could result in significant legal consequences for Patel, other FBI staff, and the agency itself.

While the FBI and the House Ethics Committee found no evidence of misconduct by Swalwell in this context, it’s worth mentioning that former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy initiated a House ethics inquiry when he assumed the role in 2021.

In a podcast interview last week, Swalwell dismissed the entire scandal as “lies and bullshit,” adding that “The Independent has said enough about this.”