This one is short and sweet. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat, a Californian, and a politician, aka, the Triple Crown of Republican/neoconservative angst, found himself under investigation, after an inordinate amount of GOP hand wringing, and more than a little bombast. To wit, Swalwell occupied the sweet spot of targets when an Axios report named him in what U.S. officials believed to be an intelligence operation run by China’s main civilian spy agency between 2011 and 2015. It should be noted at the top that Swalwell was never suspected of any wrongdoing.
However, the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Swalwell in April 2021, following claims that he had been targeted by Chinese operatives as part of a broader effort to establish ties with US politicians. The Committee had previously cautioned that Members should be conscious of the possibility that foreign governments may attempt to secure improper influence through gifts and other interactions.
A woman at the center of the operation, Fang Fang or Christine Fang, took part in fundraising activity for Swalwell’s 2014 reelection campaign and helped place an intern in Swalwell’s office. According to a letter obtained by CNN, the House Ethics Committee has ended its investigation into Swalwell. “The Committee will take no further action in this matter,” the letter to Swalwell stated.
Swalwell made a statement after receiving the letter, in which he said, “It’s time to move on. The bipartisan House Ethics Committee had this case for over two years. They had the power of subpoena. They received answers from me in response to requests for information. Today, they are closing this matter and did not make a finding of any wrongdoing.”
Not surprisingly, House Republicans seized on the allegations and used them as a pretext/motivation to remove Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee at the start of the current Congress, when they gained a House Majority, and control of Committees. Still, with two years plus, and full investigative power, in finding no wrongdoing, it was a case of, “Another Swing; Another Miss!”
I’m done; holla back!
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For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Swalwell
https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/23/politics/swalwell-house-ethics-investigation-closed/index.html
http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2023/05/another-swing-another-miss.html
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