We all recall Bill Clinton’s infamous declaration that “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.” One of his supporters, disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D., Cal.), now has his own “that person” moment. FBI material released this week shows that Swalwell admitted to what he refused to admit publicly: he did have sex with “that person.” Moreover, the material confirms that he not only enabled Fang Fang, an alleged Chinese spy, in pushing foreign interns for his office but may have received illegal foreign contributions. What is most striking about this report is that Nancy Pelosi was briefed on this information and still refused to remove Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee. After the scandal broke, Swalwell was repeatedly asked about his association. Still, he dismissed suggestions that he had a sexual relationship with an accused Chinese spy, a major allegation for a member with access to some of the most sensitive intelligence shared with Congress.

Swalwell declared:

“What it appears though that this person — as the story reports — was unsuccessful in whatever they were trying to do. But if intelligence officials are trying to weaponize someone’s cooperation, they are essentially seeking to do what this person was not able to do, which is to try and discredit someone.”

It turns out that Swalwell admitted to the FBI that the relationship was sexual in nature. The FBI also raised the possibility that Fang Fang was not only trying to get Swalwell to come to China, but that Swalwell may have received unlawful foreign donations.

We know now that the FBI believed Fang Fang may have been working with Chinese intelligence and in fact succeeded in establishing a sexual relationship with the rising politician.

When the scandal broke, some of us expressed astonishment at Pelosi’s decision to brush off calls for his removal from the House Intelligence Committee. She said she had been fully briefed on the FBI’s findings.

So Pelosi was presumably aware that Swalwell had slept with an alleged spy and possibly received unlawful foreign contributions. The report suggests an effort to groom and advance a young politician. If so, the Chinese must have been astonished when he was put on the Intelligence Committee with access to highly sensitive secrets. Pelosi not only refused to remove Swalwell from the Committee but appointed him as an impeachment manager.

At the time, Pelosi dismissed the allegations and attacked those like Kevin McCarthy who called for his removal: “I don’t have any concern about Mr. Swalwell…I do think that it is unfortunate that Mr. McCarthy is trying to make an issue of this.”

At the time, I said that Pelosi’s actions were reckless and put politics before national security. Swalwell was Pelosi’s man on the Committee. The question is whether the Chinese thought that he could also be their man on the Committee.

Pelosi continued to run interference for Swalwell despite allegations (starting before his entrance into Congress) of abusive treatment of women. The media also ignored these rumors and did not aggressively pursue his alleged affair with Fang Fang.

After Swalwell’s implosion, Pelosi immediately feigned a total lack of knowledge—and, more importantly, responsibility—for his record. The fact is that Swalwell was the creation of Pelosi, her attack dog who was always straining at the leash to attack her enemies. He was a made man, sheltered by the political and media establishment in Washington.