Chinese spy Christine Fang — also known as “Fang Fang” — had an impressive run infiltrating California politics that included Ambien-fueled romps with disgraced Rep. Eric Swalwell before vanishing back to her home country, newly released FBI files show.
The “narcissistic” honeypot reportedly bragged of her seductive exploits, launched an illegal fundraising scheme and was nearly recruited for a top-secret FBI counterintelligence as she sought “money” and “power” during her roughly four years in the Unites States, investigators wrote in documents made public by the White House Transparency Task Force.
Fang was known to FBI investigators as “Rusty Thumbs,” according to an FBI memo dated June 2013.
The comely Chinese national hooked up with Swalwell on several occasions — once brazenly showing up at his East Bay apartment and announcing that she wasn’t wearing any underwear, per the files.
“One night FANG came over late in the evening and started banging on SWALWELL’s door,” the files state of one Swalwell hookup. “SWALWELL let her in and she and SWALWELL hooked up. FANG left after a couple hours.”
Fang bragged to FBI investigators of family ties to the Chinese Communist Party, claiming she would sing for high-level officials as a child and that she worked as a flight attendant on China’s version of Air Force One.
Described as a “striking individual” who presented herself as wealthy and fashionable, Fang wormed her way into California political circles by volunteering at events and fundraisers with Swalwell, former Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, according to investigative notes.
Fang and Swalwell met in 2012, when he was not yet in congress, and communicated often through text messages and email.
Swalwell later copped to investigators that he saw her once every couple of months, but believed the friends-with-benefits arrangement was only “casual.”
The two even “hooked up” while Swalwell was on Ambien, the disgraced rep admitted to investigators.
Fang’s parents were believed to be associated with China’s Ministry of State Security.
The FBI even attempted to recruit her as a counterintelligence agent, meeting with her and drawing up a contract before discovering that she was engaged in illegal campaign fundraising activities for Swalwell, the documents show.
Fang boasted that she could “use her sexuality on politicians,” referring to activities with a U.S. mayor’s team whose name was redacted from the documents. She claimed that mayor had invited her to a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting to help take notes.
The suspected spy was self-absorbed and motivated by “money” and “power,” investigators surmised.
She was “very flirtatious” and “dressed well,” giving the impression of someone who was independently wealthy, the files state.
“While socially adept, [Fang] appears to exhibit certain egotistical/narcissistic traits which may impact her suitability as a source,” they admitted.
Fang enrolled at California State University East Bay in 2011 and formed the Chinese Students Association, serving as president.
A resume she provided to FBI investigators who sought to recruit her for a counterintelligence gig listed her success in making contact with high-level California officials.
She bragged of hosting fundraising events for Swalwell, interning for ex-Fremont mayor Harrison and volunteering at a “Hubei Hight at Silicon Valley” event where she was a “concierge” for former Governor Jerry Brown.
Fang also helped organize galas and events for former San Francisco mayor Lee, assisting with a 40th anniversary “Ping Pong Diplomacy” event in San Francisco, according to the files.
She was investigated for making “illegal campaign contributions in exchange for internships within the official campaign offices of a sitting United States congressman,” referring to Swalwell.
A FBI memo penned in 2017 indicates that Fang left the United States — reportedly sometime in mid-2015 — and she has been “barred re-entry” into the country.
Her current whereabouts are unknown, though a Facebook account tied to Fang posted a photo in 2024 showing her enjoying a meal at a restaurant.
