Top Republicans in the House are calling for Rep. Eric SwalwellEric Michael SwalwellTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee Rep. Peter King: Eric Swalwell should resign from House Intel panel Republicans press FBI for briefing on efforts by Chinese government operatives to gain influence with lawmakers MORE (D-Calif.) to be removed from the Intelligence Committee following reports that he was allegedly targeted by a woman believed to be a Chinese spy.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiCongress closes in on COVID-19 relief, funding deal Bipartisan senators urge surprise billing deal’s inclusion in year-end package Democratic leaders under pressure to agree to slimmed-down COVID-19 relief deal MORE (D-Calif.), the lawmakers, including House Minority Whip Steve ScaliseStephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee Senate chaplain in prayer: ‘We respect the conclusions of the Electoral College’ McConnell congratulates Biden on White House win MORE (R-La.) and House Republican Conference Chair Liz CheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee GOP leaders pinched by pro-Trump bid to reverse election outcome House Republicans who didn’t sign onto the Texas lawsuit MORE (Wyo.), said Swalwell’s contacts posed a national security risk.
“Because of Rep. Swalwell’s position on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, his close interactions with Chinese intelligence services, however unintentional they may be, are an unacceptable national security risk,” they wrote.
ADVERTISEMENT
It said the panel “handles some of the most sensitive information our government possesses,” and that as a result Swalwell should be removed from his position.
Axios first reported that Swalwell had been targeted by an alleged Chinese Ministry of State Security operative named Christine Fang, who also goes by Fang Fang. The woman, according to the report, helped Swalwell’s fundraising during his 2014 reelection campaign and she also helped place an unpaid intern inside his office.
The Republicans drew a parallel to Democratic calls for former Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsBarr exit hints at further tumult under Trump Top GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee Barr to step down as attorney general MORE to resign after he met with a Russian ambassador without alerting Congress.
The lawmakers said that Swalwell should be held to the same standard as Sessions, arguing that his interactions with the Chinese agent “were more dangerous.”
“Rep. Swalwell withheld information for five years from the House Intelligence Committee about an ongoing Chinese espionage operation targeted at him and his own colleagues,” they wrote.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Obviously, Rep. Swalwell’s interactions with a Chinese spy were more dangerous and unusual than AG Sessions’ meetings with a Russian diplomat. But to make matters worse, Rep. Swalwell kept this information to himself while repeatedly using his position on [the Intelligence Committee] to peddle damaging and baseless conspiracies about President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpTop Trump aide Derek Lyons to leave White House this month Judge rules Trump Org must turn over documents to NY AG as part of probe Longtime GOP strategist Steve Schmidt announces he’s registering Democrat MORE’s unproven ties to Russia for years and still refuses to comment fully on the extent and nature of his relationship with the Chinese Communist Party spy exposed in Axios’ bombshell report.”
Swalwell told Politico last week he severed contact with Fang after he was alerted by federal investigators of alleged suspicious activity and is not accused of any wrongdoing, adding Democratic leadership knew about the interactions.
He also questioned the timing of the report, arguing that there was political motivation behind the leak given his rebukes of the Trump administration.
Fang left the country in 2015 during the FBI investigation into her activities.
Pelosi has previously stated she has no concerns about Swalwell remaining on the panel.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I don’t have any concern about Mr. Swalwell,” she told reporters last week.
Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Banks (Ind.) and GOP Reps. Paul GosarPaul Anthony GosarTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee House Republicans who didn’t sign onto the Texas lawsuit Press: America: Love it or leave it! MORE (Ariz.), Jody HiceJody Brownlow HiceTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee Republicans press FBI for briefing on efforts by Chinese government operatives to gain influence with lawmakers Hillicon Valley: Department of Justice sues Google | House Republicans push for tech bias hearing | Biden drawing more Twitter engagement for first time MORE (Ga.), Ralph NormanRalph Warren NormanTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee Hillicon Valley: House votes to condemn QAnon | Americans worried about foreign election interference | DHS confirms request to tap protester phones House approves measure condemning QAnon, but 17 Republicans vote against it MORE (S.C.), Bob GibbsRobert (Bob) Brian GibbsTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee House Republicans ask Amtrak CEO for information on Biden’s train trips Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib propose amendment to defund administration of ‘opportunity zone’ program MORE (Ohio), Greg Murphy (N.C.), Ron WrightRonald (Ron) WrightTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses slate of non-Hispanic candidates Comedian Joel McHale: Reach out and help local restaurants, wear masks with your favorite message; Frontline Foods’s Ryan Sarver says we are in inning 3 of the COVID-19 ballgame MORE (Texas), Ted BuddTheodore (Ted) Paul BuddTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee Congress eyes 1-week stopgap, longer session to reach deal Alabama Republican becomes third House member to test positive for COVID-19 this week MORE (N.C.), Jeff DuncanJeffrey (Jeff) Darren DuncanTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee Hillicon Valley: House votes to condemn QAnon | Americans worried about foreign election interference | DHS confirms request to tap protester phones House approves measure condemning QAnon, but 17 Republicans vote against it MORE (S.C.), Warren DavidsonWarren Earl DavidsonTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee House Republicans who didn’t sign onto the Texas lawsuit Government used Patriot Act to gather website visitor logs in 2019 MORE (Ohio), Fred Keller (Pa.) and Kevin HernKevin HernTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee Lawmakers call for small business aid at all levels of government The Hill’s Morning Report – Sponsored by Facebook – Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy MORE (Okla.) also signed on to the letter.
Other GOP lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyCongress closes in on COVID-19 relief, funding deal Democratic leaders under pressure to agree to slimmed-down COVID-19 relief deal Progressives ramp up calls for increased unemployment insurance, direct payments MORE (Calif.) and retiring Rep. Pete KingPeter (Pete) KingTop GOP lawmakers call for Swalwell to be removed from Intelligence Committee Republican Garbarino wins election to replace retiring Rep. Pete King Katko announces bid to serve as top Republican on Homeland Security panel MORE (N.Y.), who previously sat on the Intelligence Committee, have also called for Swalwell’s removal from the panel.
“I will accept Swalwell’s claim that he ended all involvement with Fang after he was informed by the FBI that she was a spy,” King wrote in an op-ed in The Hill on Tuesday. “Nevertheless, the fact remains that he was compromised and made susceptible to blackmail by the Chinese, who could threaten him with the disclosure of his involvement with their alleged agent. No matter what anyone thinks of Swalwell, his appointment was not a risk worth taking.”