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Swalwell Warns FBI Release on Fang Could Abuse Power

4/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

California Rep. Eric Swalwell says the FBI would abuse its power if decade-old files about Christine Fang are released.
He sent a cease-and-desist letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, calling the release a "horrendous abuse of power" and a smear.
Swalwell says he has never been accused of wrongdoing and his attorneys warned that releasing the files could violate federal law and expose the FBI to liability.

History

Historical Context

The FBI's COINTELPRO program, initiated in 1956, aimed to surveil and disrupt perceived subversive groups, including civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. By 1971, public exposure of COINTELPRO's abuses, including illegal surveillance, prompted significant reforms. The Church Committee's findings in 1975 underscored ongoing tensions between government oversight and civil liberties, a debate that remains relevant today.

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Story summary

California Rep. Eric Swalwell says the FBI would abuse its power if decade-old files about Christine Fang are released.
He sent a cease-and-desist letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, calling the release a "horrendous abuse of power" and a smear.
Swalwell says he has never been accused of wrongdoing and his attorneys warned that releasing the files could violate federal law and expose the FBI to liability.

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