As calls increase for Rep. Eric Swalwell’s removal from Congress, or at the very least his seat on the House Intelligence Committee, the California Democrat has resorted to page one of the leftist playbook to explain his close ties to a Chinese spy - it’s Trump’s fault.

According to a Dec. 8 report by Axios Chinese national and suspected spy Fang Fang, also known as Christine Fang, “targeted up-and-coming local politicians in the Bay Area and across the country who had the potential to make it big on the national stage” through “campaign fundraising, extensive networking, personal charisma, and romantic or sexual relationships.”

Fang reportedly helped bring in top donors to Swalwell. She later left the U.S. in 2015 and returned to China. U.S. officials told Axios that they believe that China’s communist government ended her mission and called her back, perhaps because they saw signs that the U.S. government was closing in on her alleged activities.

Axios wrote, “Among the most significant targets of Fang’s efforts was Rep. Eric Swalwell.... Fang took part in fundraising activity for Swalwell’s 2014 re-election campaign. ... Swalwell’s office was directly aware of these activities on its behalf.”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Swalwell “not only should he be removed from the Intel [Committee]. He should be removed from Congress, as well.”

Swalwell responded to the article by claiming that the Trump administration leaked it to Axios.

“I’ve been a critic of the president. I’ve spoken out against him. I was on both committees that worked to impeach him. The timing feels like that should be looked at,” Swalwell told Politico.

Fang’s activities took place from 2011 to 2015, the Axios report noted. She worked to influence the policies of her targets in U.S. government.

“In other words, she was trying to collude with U.S. politicians,” Washington Times columnist Cheryl K. Chumley noted.

“This is hardly shocking. China wants to upset America’s global dominance,” Chumley added.

“What is a bit shocking, though, is the fact one of her collusion targets, Rep. Eric Swalwell, who couldn’t wait to impeach President Donald Trump for false Russia collusion charges, is now shaking off any negative press here by - get this - accusing Trump of colluding with Axios. Or maybe it’s Axios colluding with Trump.”

Chumley continued: “Now here’s the breathtaking hypocrisy: Swalwell, though, is a Democrat who stood strong on the side of `Impeach Trump!’ — for alleged Russia collusion. Those charges proved false.