Rep. Eric Swalwell, who looks like Dexter, is in full-on damage control mode after an Axios report revealed that he was one of many targets of a Chinese espionage operation to gain access to America’s political circles. The congressman was allegedly entangled with Christine Fang, a Chinese national who is believed to be a spy for Beijing. 

The alleged spy participated in a fundraising event for Swalwell’s 2014 re-election campaign, but she did not make donations or provide illegal contributions. “Fang helped place at least one intern in Swalwell’s office, according to those same two people, and interacted with Swalwell at multiple events over the course of several years,” according to Axios. 

The news outlet also noted that “federal investigators became so alarmed by Fang’s behavior and activities that around 2015 they alerted Swalwell to their concerns — giving him what is known as a defensive briefing,” and that the representative “immediately cut off all ties to Fang.” 

The spy operation also targeted other Democratic politicians, including Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Ro Khanna (D-CA).

During an interview with Politico, Swalwell intimated that information regarding his relationship with the alleged spy is being weaponized against him. And who does he blame for this attack? 

You guessed it: President Donald Trump, who apparently has nothing better to do than launch political attacks against a failed presidential candidate and mediocre lawmaker. 

Swalwell pointed out that he was a vocal critic of the Trump administration while he was running for president. He’s right about that; he was one of the loudest and most obnoxious purveyors of the Russia collusion hoax. 

He told Politico: “I’ve been a critic of the president. I’ve spoken out against him. I was on both committees that worked to impeach him. The timing feels like that should be looked at.”

He added: “What it appears though that this person — as the story reports — was unsuccessful in whatever they were trying to do. But if intelligence officials are trying to weaponize someone’s cooperation, they are essentially seeking to do what this person was not able to do, which is to try and discredit someone.” 

The lawmaker refused to talk about his relationship with Fang after Axios reported that she was sexually intimate with at least two other politicians. However, he did assert that this story would not cost him his seat on the House Intelligence Committee. “As the story referenced, this goes back to the beginning of the last decade, and it’s something that congressional leadership knew about it,” he said.

However, at least one lawmaker is calling for Swalwell’s ouster after the bombshell report was published. In an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Ingraham Angle,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) argued that Swalwell should be removed from the committee. 

He said:

“Nancy Pelosi is one of the Gang of Eight, along with myself. Did Nancy Pelosi know this had transpired when she put him on the committee? We have our Sen., Dianne Feinstein, for two decades, the personal assistant, that hear all the private phone calls in the car and others, a Chinese spy. Why did the Democrats pull out of the bipartisan China task force I had set up? Why did Speaker Pelosi pull out of that? Why have they denied certain bills that would hold China accountable, that have passed the Senate, not come to the floor? Why do they focus on Silicon Valley members of Congress? Why is he still on the Intel. Committee? Why is he still a member of Congress? Did Adam Schiff know, as chairman of that committee, that he had this problem?”

McCarthy added, “Not only should he be removed from the Intel [Committee]. He should be removed from Congress, as well.”

Unfortunately, Swalwell is likely correct; this story will not result in his being removed from the House Intelligence Committee. Moreover, it is unlikely that the corporate press will push harder to find out more about Fang’s relationships with other Democrats, so this story is likely dead in the water at this point. 

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