Pelosi Appoints Eric Swalwell to Homeland Security Committee Despite Chinese Spy Ties
Democrat House speaker reappoints rep amid concerns of links to Chinese Communist Party
© press
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has reappointed controversial Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) to return to the Homeland Security Committee, despite his ties to a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spy being recently exposed.
House Republicans have been calling for a full investigation into Democrat Swalwell after his long-standing relationship with CCP spy Christine Fang, aka Fang Fang, recently emerged.
Some lawmakers have also been pushing for Swalwell's removal from Congress over the scandal.
Despite the widespread concerns over Swalwell being potentially compromised, Speaker Pelosi announced his appointment to the national security committee Thursday evening.
"In the election, the American people elected a Democratic House Majority that not only will ensure that our nation recovers from this historic pandemic and economic crisis, but will Build Back Better," Pelosi said in a statement.
"As House Speaker, I am pleased to announce the appointments of these outstanding Members to key Committees, where they will be relentless in leading Democrats’ work to combat disparities in our economy and country and to advance justice and progress For The People."
© press
Swalwell, who is also on the House Intelligence Committee and is slated to serve as an impeachment manager, likened President Trump to terrorist leader Usama bin Laden in an interview earlier this week.
He’s also been referring to multiple Republican lawmakers as the "Coup Klux Klan" and accusing others of associated with "terrorists" in connection with a siege on Capitol Hill last Wednesday.
He previously served on the Homeland Security Committee during his first term in Congress, from 2012 to 2014, which was before the FBI had briefed him on alleged Communist spy Fang Fang’s activities.
After that, he allegedly cut ties.
Swalwell has refused to reveal the nature of his relationship with Fang, or to confirm whether or not it was sexual, arguing that the information is "classified."
He has not been accused of wrongdoing, but critics have demanded he step down or be removed from the Intelligence Committee as part of standard counter-intelligence risk-management practices.
© press
Fang targeted several aspiring politicians from 2011 to 2015, with a reported focus on Swalwell, a former Democratic presidential candidate.
Over the years, the CCP operative reportedly helped raise funding for Swalwell.
It also emerged that a separate Chinese Communist Party employee made several large donations to Swalwell's congressional campaigns, Federal Election Commission (FEC) records revealed.
In the same announcement, Pelosi said Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would once again join the Financial Services Committee.
In February 2019, the Federal Election Commission received a complaint that Ocasio-Cortez allegedly funneled thousands of dollars in illegal payments to her boyfriend, Riley Roberts, through an allied PAC.
