- The man left several explicit voice messages threatening the top Democrat
- “Hey fat guy, you (expletive) a (expletive) Chinese spy. Fang Hook. Fang Fang,” the man reportedly said in a series of voicemails in December
- Swalwell blamed 'MAGA' Republicans for fueling the hatred the man radiated
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A Florida man has been arrested for threatening to kill Democrat Eric Swalwell, according to the Justice Department.
The man, Michael Shapiro, left several explicit voice messages at the Democrats' office in Washington, D.C., on December 19, calling him a “Chinese spy” and invoking his alleged affair with the suspected Chinese agent ” Fang Fang'.
“Hey fat guy, you (expletive) a (expletive) Chinese spy. Fang Hook. Fang Hook. I'll come and kill the mother of your children… (expletive). I'm going to kill your kids,” Shapiro said in a voicemail, according to the complaint.
“No threat will stop me from representing my constituents,” Swalwell responded to X.
Republicans have accused Democrat Eric Swalwell of “aiding and abetting” Hunter Biden to defy a congressional subpoena after the president's son held a dramatic news conference just yards from where he was scheduled to deliver a private statement.
A Chinese national named Fang Fang or Christine Fang targeted rising local politicians in the Bay Area and around the country who had the potential to make it big on the national stage, including Representative Eric Swalwell
He then accused “MAGA” Republicans of stoking Shapiro's hatred.
“MAGA Republicans have chosen violence over voting and this is what it looks like. But I'm not leaving and neither are you,” he continued.
A Chinese national named Fang Fang or Christine Fang targeted rising local politicians in the Bay Area and around the country who had the potential to make it big on the national stage, including Representative Eric Swalwell.
Swalwell's ties to Fang Fang led to an ethics committee investigation into his conduct.
The committee ultimately took no disciplinary action against Swalwell, but issued a letter warning lawmakers of the threat of foreign infiltration.
“Members should be aware of the possibility that foreign governments may attempt to gain undue influence through gifts and other interactions,” the letter said.
Fang Fang left China in 2011 to study in the US and then worked to develop relationships with key lawmakers, including Swalwell, to gain access to sensitive information.
She reportedly raised money for his 2014 campaign and attended a number of events attended by the congressman.
The FBI, which was investigating Fang Fang, first brought their concerns to the congressman in 2015. At that time, Swalwell said he had cut off all contact with the suspected spy.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy expelled Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee last year over his Fang Fang connection.