Former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) once dated Katie Miller, the woman now married to top Trump adviser Stephen Miller, according to a new report revealing an unexpected connection at the center of a battle over FBI records involving suspected Chinese intelligence operative Christine Fang.
Swalwell’s legal team reportedly raised the former relationship during discussions surrounding a potential release of investigative records concerning his past contacts with Fang, commonly known as “Fang Fang,” according to the Sources Say newsletter and the Daily Mail.
A source familiar with the relationship told the Daily Mail that Katie Miller was 22 and working as an intern when she and Swalwell began dating more than a decade ago.
The relationship ended years before she became romantically involved with Stephen Miller, one of President Donald Trump’s closest advisers.
Katie and Stephen Miller have now been married for six years and share four children.
The former couple reportedly have not spoken or seen each other in years.
Katie Miller told Sources Say that she was unaware her past relationship with Swalwell had ever been raised with the Justice Department.
The revelation comes amid a broader dispute surrounding FBI records detailing Swalwell’s contacts with Fang.
Fang developed relationships with several rising California politicians and helped bundle donations for Swalwell’s 2014 congressional re-election campaign. She also helped place an intern in his congressional office, according to the Daily Mail.
Fang returned to China in 2015 as federal investigators scrutinized her activities.
Swalwell was given a defensive briefing by the FBI concerning Fang and subsequently cut off contact with her and cooperated with investigators.
The investigation ultimately ended without charges against Swalwell.
The controversy nevertheless followed the California Democrat for years after details about his association with Fang became public in 2020.
The issue returned to the political spotlight earlier this year after FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly moved toward releasing records from the closed investigation.
Swalwell’s legal team reportedly argued that releasing the material under the Trump administration could appear to be a politically motivated effort to weaponize the Justice Department against him.
According to Sources Say, Swalwell sent a cease-and-desist letter challenging the potential release and arguing that it represented an attempt to damage his campaign for California governor.
The FBI records were ultimately not released.
Behind the scenes, Justice Department attorneys working under then-Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly communicated with Swalwell’s attorney about the records, including discussions concerning whether they should remain sealed.
Bondi strongly disputed aspects of that account.
“I NEVER had any conversations with Swalwell nor his legal team regarding the Chinese Spy nor did I direct anyone at DOJ not to release files,” Bondi told the Daily Mail.
Bondi said her only contact involving Swalwell concerned “death threats to his wife and children.”
The Daily Mail previously reported that Trump removed Bondi in April partly because he believed she had alerted Swalwell about plans to release the records.
Bondi has denied that allegation.
Swalwell has also denied receiving such a warning.
“The attorney general did not tip us off,” Swalwell said during an MSNBC interview following Bondi’s departure.
Swalwell later withdrew from California’s gubernatorial race amid sexual misconduct allegations in April, which he has denied.
Katie Miller, meanwhile, has developed her own prominent political profile.
She worked on Capitol Hill before holding senior positions during the Trump administration and later worked for Elon Musk. She subsequently left government to launch a podcast.
Despite their reported romantic history, Miller has become an outspoken critic of Swalwell, frequently attacking him publicly over his politics, ethics and conduct.
The newly reported relationship adds an unusual personal dimension to an already politically charged dispute involving Swalwell, the Trump administration and the unreleased FBI records.
