Representative Eric Swalwell Demands FBI Director Kash Patel Halt Release of Decade-Old Investigative Records

Attorneys for Rep. Eric Swalwell demand FBI Director Kash Patel stop the release of 10-year-old files, citing illegal interference in the CA Governor race.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 5:52 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from ABC News

Legal Challenge to Unprecedented Record Disclosure

Attorneys representing Representative Eric Swalwell have formally intervened to block the Federal Bureau of Investigation from publicizing sensitive documents related to a ten-year-old counterintelligence inquiry. The legal team, led by Sean Hecker and Norm Eisen, delivered a cease-and-desist letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, asserting that the proposed release of these files would be a direct violation of Department of Justice protocols. Under long-standing federal policy, the government typically refrains from disclosing investigative materials in cases where no criminal charges were filed, a standard designed to protect the privacy and reputations of individuals.

Allegations of Political Interference in Gubernatorial Race

The push to prevent the file release comes as Swalwell actively campaigns for the governorship of California, leading his legal team to characterize the FBI's actions as a politically motivated smear tactic. According to the letter, the effort to unearth and redact these old records is a transparent attempt to undermine the lawmaker's electoral prospects. The attorneys have demanded a formal confirmation of compliance from Director Patel within three days, warning that any further steps toward publication will trigger significant legal liability for the Director and the agency itself.

Origins of the Counterintelligence Inquiry

The records in question stem from an investigation into the activities of Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative who reportedly cultivated ties with several American politicians. Investigators scrutinized Fang’s interactions with Swalwell’s congressional campaigns between 2012 and 2014, eventually briefing the Congressman on their concerns in 2015. Following that federal alert, Swalwell stated that he immediately severed all contact with the individual. Despite the scrutiny, federal authorities never accused the Congressman of any wrongdoing, and a subsequent House Ethics Committee probe was shuttered in 2023 without any disciplinary action.