Trump FBI Now Ordering Swalwell China Probe Docs: Dems Cry 'Smear'

Democrat Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-14) has some problems, namely, that his past and his poor judgment keep coming back to haunt him. Not the least of his peccadillos was his involvement with a possible Chinese agent, wherein Rep. Swalwell reportedly fell for one of the oldest tricks in the espionage book: The honey trap.

Now, the FBI, under Director Kash Patel, is gathering documents related to that ill-advised affair (hah), and Rep. Swalwell's attorneys are reportedly preparing a strongly worded letter demanding that the FBI not release those files.

Wait, isn't transparency supposed to be a good thing? New York Times Chief White House Correspondent Peter Baker notes that this may be used to "smear" Swalwell.

Trump officials have ordered FBI agents to gather documents about a decade-old investigation into Eric Swalwell and his ties to a suspected Chinese spy, alarming law enforcement officials who fear it could be used to smear him. @ewong @DevlinBarrett https://t.co/jdCPeYy3EI
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) March 29, 2026

Is it a smear if it's true? The Washington Post has more details:

Attorneys for Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California) demanded Monday in a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel that the bureau refrain from releasing decade-old investigative files involving the congressman’s purported ties to a suspected Chinese intelligence operative.
The congressman called for the FBI to agree within three days not to release the files, adding that any further action to release them could prompt him to take legal action. The cease-and-desist letter followed a report from The Washington Post over the weekend that Patel had dispatched agents to review and redact the files in a potential move to ready them for a public release.
Swalwell was not accused of any wrongdoing when the FBI investigated him and the suspected spy, Christine Fang, a decade ago. Swalwell’s congressional office said it had immediately cut ties with Fang when federal agents informed him in 2015 that they were concerned she might be an intelligence operative. More recently, the Republican-led House Ethics Committee closed a two-year investigation into the congressman in 2023 without taking any action.

So, from what's said here, it doesn't look as though the impulsive Rep. Swalwell will be charged with anything, but the documentation of the investigations will be released, just as Mr. Swalwell has been demanding the release of the Epstein files.

Transparency in all things? Or only when they harm Republicans?

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Let's face it, Rep. Swalwell is far from the sharpest knife in the Congressional drawer - even among Democrats. He has demonstrated a significant lack of self-awareness and poor judgment in his personal affairs. But the hypocrisy on display here is amazing, even for a Democrat. Rep. Swalwell is quick to shout "transparency" where anything Trump-related or even Trump-adjacent is concerned, but when it's him - no, those files can't be released.

If he is blameless in this matter, why is he objecting to the release of the documents? He's a public official, an employee of the taxpayers. His affairs (again, hah) are not his alone. The taxpaying voters of California's 14th Congressional District have a right to know what he's been up to, especially where and when a possible Chinese agent is involved.

But Rep. Swalwell is a Democrat. "Transparency for thee, not for me" applies.

Editor’s Note: Help us continue to report the truth about corrupt politicians like Eric "Honey Trap" Swalwell.

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