Since #Trump took office, his admin has mounted an aggressive campaign to use federal law enforcement agencies to pursue his political adversaries, repeatedly.

…Even against this backdrop, a proposal to release extensive files, send agents to China to interview a suspected intelligence operative & offer her a #US #visa in exchange for unreliable revelations about a US congressman would be extraordinary.

#KashPatel #EricSwalwell #law #LegalEthics #DOJ #EnemiesList #WeaponizationOfGovernment

Internal #DOJ policy has long said that law enforcement should refrain from taking any public investigatory steps against a political candidate in the 60 days before an #election, to prevent even the appearance of the department using its power to sway the #vote.

…The #California gubernatorial primary is June 2.

#Trump #KashPatel #EricSwalwell #ElectionInterference #law #LegalEthics #EnemiesList #RevengePolitics #WeaponizationOfGovernment

Swalwell’s district in Northern California includes a large Chinese American population. #Republicans & #RightWing #media personalities frequently criticize Swalwell for his ties to Fang & the Chinese community, suggesting that he is improperly working with them.
FBI agents need a specific investigative reason to reopen a closed investigation. People familiar with the probe said it is unclear how or why the #FBI reopened its examination of #EricSwalwell.

#Trump #KashPatel #DOJ #law #LegalEthics

“Most troubling about this is that we are now literally at #war. We also face threats against the homeland,” #EricSwalwell said in a statement. “#KashPatel should be spending every moment trying to keep us safe, not scoring political points. A lot of people have bent the knee to this administration. But I will not, & neither will the people of California.”

#Trump #NationalSecurity #DOJ #law #LegalEthics #EnemiesList #RevengePolitics #WeaponizationOfGovernment

…Even if there is no incriminating evidence in the files, an extensive case file could contain revealing & personal details about #EricSwalwell & his campaign operations.

The lengths that Patel’s circle is going to in the bid to pursue a political foe of #Trump has raised alarms within the #FBI, where some ofcls fear that releasing the files—even with redactions—could compromise law enforcement #sources & investigatory #methods, making it harder for the FBI to gain trust with witnesses.

#law

#EricSwalwell was not accused of any wrongdoing when the #FBI investigated his relationship with Fang a decade ago. In 2023, the #Republican-led #House #Ethics Cmte closed a 2-year investigation into the congressman, deciding to “take no further action.”

#Trump #KashPatel #DOJ #law #LegalEthics #EnemiesList #RevengePolitics #WeaponizationOfGovernment

The Chinese woman at issue is Christine Fang,…[dubbed Fang Fang by #racist #MAGA types & #Trump], who reportedly courted #EricSwalwell & other #California politicians in the #US from 2011 to 2015. She helped with fundraising for Swalwell’s 2014 reelection campaign & even helped place an intern in his congressional office. When federal agents conveyed their concerns about Fang to Swalwell around 2015, he cut off ties with her & helped investigators.

#KashPatel #DOJ #law #LegalEthics #EnemiesList

As #FBI director, #KashPatel has focused on trying to bring a criminal case against the outspoken Democrat, reassigning multiple agents in San Francisco to work on the matter, the current & former ofcls said. FBI leaders have even discussed sending agents to China to talk to the suspected intelligence operative, believing she could have damaging information about #EricSwalwell, acc/to 2 of the people….

#Trump #DOJ #law #LegalEthics #EnemiesList #WeaponizationOfGovernment #GovernmentWaste