March 29, 2026 (New York time) – Representative Eric Swalwell has accused the Donald Trump administration of attempting to interfere in the California gubernatorial race by planning to release documents regarding his ties to a suspected Chinese spy.
Speaking on CNN, Swalwell called President Trump and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) "dangerous individuals," emphasizing:
“The people of California are the ones who decide the governor, not Donald Trump or Kash Patel.”
According to The Washington Post, FBI Director Kash Patel is pushing for the release of documents related to Christine Fang—also known as Fang Fang—who is suspected of being a Chinese intelligence agent.
Fang reportedly built relationships with various U.S. politicians while she was a student in California, including Swalwell when he was a Dublin city councilman. Reports state she raised funds for his 2014 re-election campaign, introduced staff to his office, and had personal relationships with several local politicians.
This issue previously led Swalwell to face a House ethics investigation after Kevin McCarthy requested a review in 2021. However, Swalwell's campaign maintains the FBI cleared him and found no wrongdoing, even though he was previously embroiled in a controversy involving a $23 million mansion that caught public attention.
Amid the California gubernatorial campaign, Swalwell described the revival of the case as a “political attack,” accusing President Trump of repeatedly targeting him because he views him as an opponent. This comes as the California Democratic Party fears a scenario where two Republican candidates reach the general election.
Additionally, he mentioned being recommended for a federal investigation regarding real estate transactions in Washington, viewing this as part of political pressure from the opposition, similar to how Katie Porter sparked controversy with slogans attacking President Trump in recent campaign activities.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has not yet issued an official comment regarding the allegations.
These developments show the California gubernatorial race heating up, as national security factors and foreign relations continue to be highlights in political debate, especially as President Trump outlines a winning formula for the Republican Party in key states.
