Rep. Eric Swalwell’s campaign for governor in California is receiving financial backing from Keliang “Clay” Zhu, despite ongoing concerns about Zhu’s connections to China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Recently, Zhu contributed an additional $25,000 to Swalwell, adding to a previous donation of $5,000 made last November and over $10,000 he had already donated to Swalwell’s House campaign.
Zhu serves as a partner at Deheng Law Firm PC, a prominent legal firm based in Beijing known for its close ties to China. The firm’s website indicates a presence in the Silicon Valley area, specifically in Pleasanton, but it features only Zhu as its attorney. He has a history of promoting Chinese interests within the U.S.
Michael Rucci, a leading expert on China, expressed his concern: “It’s outrageous that Congressman Swalwell continues to accept money from Mr. Zhu, especially after his connections to the CCP have been disclosed.”
Swalwell’s candidacy has also faced scrutiny regarding his residency—court allegations suggest he does not actually live in California. An investigation earlier this year by Fox News Digital pointed out that Zhu’s law firm originated as a subsidiary of the CCP’s Ministry of Justice in the early 1990s, later rebranding as Deheng Law Firm in 1995. Although they claim independence, the firm maintains relationships with various government ministries and state-owned enterprises in China.
In his professional bio, Zhu cites numerous successes in facilitating investments from Chinese firms into the U.S., including helping a state-owned enterprise acquire a majority stake in a Silicon Valley data company worth $100 million. He claims to have been involved in over $9 billion of investments in fields like artificial intelligence and biopharmaceuticals. Zhu has worked directly with U.S. government departments to ensure compliance for his Chinese clients.
There are various instances highlighting Zhu’s efforts in legal representation for Chinese firms, including advising a Shenzhen sovereign wealth fund on U.S. regulations. He also represented WeChat users in a lawsuit against former President Trump, which ultimately led to a halt on WeChat’s ban in 2020, amid national security concerns about data security and privacy.
Zhu has publicly criticized laws in Texas and Florida that restrict foreign ownership of land, labeling them as unconstitutional. Furthermore, his firm consists of attorneys with backgrounds in politics that often engage with the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, indicating a significant political relationship in shaping U.S. policies.
Swalwell’s connections to individuals with links to Chinese intelligence have led to further investigations. Christine Huang, known as “Fan Fan,” was reported to have special access to Swalwell, raising alarms among U.S. officials about possible espionage. Although Swalwell asserts he ended associations with U.S. intelligence upon being informed of these concerns and was cleared of wrongdoing by a Congressional ethics investigation, his past encounters with suspicion have had repercussions—he lost his position on the House Intelligence Committee.
Additionally, newly uncovered information reveals that Swalwell had previously highlighted opportunities for U.S.-China collaboration during meetings with high-ranking CCP officials. This information surfaced alongside details of Huang’s involvement with his campaign, raising more questions about his judgment and the implications of his ties to the Chinese government.
Rucci criticized Swalwell’s actions, questioning whether he is unaware of the ramifications of his associations or simply indifferent. He suggested that Congress should enact legislation to prohibit campaign contributions from entities connected to the CCP.
So far, Swalwell’s campaign has not provided any comments regarding these allegations.
