White House denies Pam Bondi was fired for tipping off Eric Swalwell about FBI file release

WASHINGTON, DC: The White House is pushing back against claims that Pam Bondi was removed from her role over alleged links to a controversy involving Rep Eric Swalwell, even as questions continue to swirl about the circumstances surrounding her departure.

A senior Trump administration source dismissed reports suggesting Bondi tipped off Swalwell about FBI activity tied to documents connected to his past associations, calling those claims unfounded.

White House rejects claims linking Pam Bondi firing to Eric Swalwell

According to the source, while President Donald Trump personally liked Bondi, her removal had been under consideration for some time due to concerns about her performance.

“The president has been considering this change for a long time,” the source said.

The statement directly counters reports that Bondi’s exit was triggered by internal suspicions that she alerted Swalwell to potential developments involving FBI records tied to his past interactions with Christine Fang.

Eric Swalwell’s team denies any advance knowledge

Amid the speculation, a spokesperson for Swalwell firmly denied that the congressman had any prior knowledge of FBI actions or document releases.

“We had no heads-up by anyone in the administration. None,” said Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell’s campaign for California governor.

Beasley also pushed back strongly against the broader narrative, criticizing the claims as politically motivated.

“These stories would be laughable if not so outrageous. An administration that is now at 33% approval is looking to blame anyone but the right people - themselves,” he added.

Internal tensions and scrutiny preceded Bondi’s exit

Bondi’s removal comes after months of reported friction within the administration. Her tenure had already been under scrutiny over how certain high-profile records were handled, adding to the pressure surrounding her role.

While the White House has denied the specific rumor tying her exit to Swalwell, it has not denied that internal disagreements played a part in the decision.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has since stepped in as acting attorney general while Trump considers a permanent replacement.

Bondi’s departure also marks the second cabinet-level exit in recent weeks, following the earlier dismissal of Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security.

Past controversy involving Eric Swalwell resurfaces

The situation has also brought renewed attention to Swalwell’s past connections with Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative who had previously engaged in political fundraising and networking.

Fang was involved in assisting Swalwell’s 2014 congressional campaign and helped place an intern in his office before federal authorities intervened.

An FBI probe into the matter did not result in any charges, and a House Ethics Committee review was eventually closed without public findings.

Swalwell addressed the issue during a brief news conference in San Francisco, where he criticized FBI Director Kash Patel.

“This case is closed,” Swalwell said. “The bureau said, over 10 years ago, all we did was help [with the investigation].”