#KashPatel’s push against Democratic lawmaker raises concerns within #FBI
The FBI director seeks to post documents on Rep #EricSwalwell despite no evidence of wrongdoing, officials said.
#Trump #DOJ #law #LegalEthics #EnemiesList #RevengePolitics #WeaponizationOfGovernment
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/28/fbi-patel-eric-swalwell/
#FBI Director #KashPatel is pressing to release a decade-old investigative file involving Rep. #EricSwalwell (D-California) & a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, recently dispatching agents in the Bureau’s San Francisco office to quickly redact the files before they are released publicly despite NO evidence of wrongdoing by Swalwell, according to three people familiar with the effort.
#Trump #DOJ #law #LegalEthics #EnemiesList #RevengePolitics #WeaponizationOfGovernment
The potential release is part of the #Trump admin’s aggressive push to investigate #EricSwalwell, [who served as an #impeachment manager (prosecutor) during Trump's 2nd impeachment trial], a vocal critic of #Trump & a leading Democratic candidate for #California #governor, acc/to the people familiar with the effort. It is highly unusual for the #FBI to release case files tied to a probe that did NOT result in criminal charges.
#KashPatel #DOJ #law #LegalEthics #EnemiesList #RevengePolitics
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
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.
#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
🚨Despite that, #FBI leaders have recently suggested in internal discussions that the govt could try to arrange for Fang to get a #US #visa in exchange for speaking with FBI agents about the Democrat, acc/to the 3 people with knowledge of Patel’s efforts. It would be highly unorthodox to grant a visa to a person suspected of being an #intelligence agent for a foreign superpower.
#Trump #KashPatel #DOJ #law #NationalSecurity #immigration #LegalEthics #EnemiesList #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.
“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
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.
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
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
But it's nice when they recognize a solid Governor candidate, and future Presidential candidate when they see one .
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