Democrats decry ‘smear’ as Trump FBI pushes for release of Eric Swalwell file

California governor contender not accused of wrongdoing in decade-old inquiry into suspected Chinese agent

The Trump administration has reportedly been pushing to release records from an FBI investigation related to Eric Swalwell and alleged links to a Chinese agent as the Democratic congressman makes gains in the California governor's race.

The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing three people familiar with the effort", that the FBI director, Kash Patel, is pushing to release the files, even though there is no public evidence of wrongdoing on Swalwell's part. The records stem from a decade-old investigation into a suspected spy who had developed relationships with US politicians and assisted Swalwell with fundraising.