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DeHeng is a Beijing-based legal firm that traces its roots to the Chinese government’s Ministry of Justice before rebranding in the 1990s.
According to publicly available information about Zhu’s work, the lawyer has played a role in facilitating billions of dollars in Chinese investments in American companies and industries.
His own professional profile highlights deals involving Chinese state-backed investors and major technology sectors inside the United States.
Among the transactions he has touted is helping coordinate the purchase of a Silicon Valley data analytics firm by a Chinese state-linked investment fund in a deal valued at roughly $100 million.
His legal work has also assisted Chinese corporations pursuing investments across fields including artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology, autonomous vehicles, and pharmaceutical development.
Altogether, Zhu says he has helped Chinese firms execute more than $9 billion in U.S. investments.
Beyond corporate work, Zhu has taken public positions on controversial political issues tied to Beijing’s interests.
He was involved in legal challenges against the Trump administration’s attempt to ban the Chinese messaging app WeChat in the United States.
At the time, the White House argued that the platform could be used by Beijing to monitor dissidents and spread propaganda abroad.
Zhu has also criticized state laws in places like Texas and Florida restricting Chinese nationals from purchasing land near strategic infrastructure.
He described those restrictions as “unfair, unconstitutional and un-American.”
Despite those connections, Swalwell’s campaign has accepted multiple donations from Zhu in recent months.
Records show Zhu contributed $5,000 last November, followed by another $9,999 through DeHeng’s firm account in December.
More recently, the lawyer donated an additional $25,000.
The contributions total more than $40,000 directed toward Swalwell’s gubernatorial ambitions.
Requests for comment from Swalwell’s office about the donations reportedly went unanswered.
Previous Controversy Involving Chinese Spy
The issue also revives scrutiny surrounding Swalwell’s earlier connection to a suspected Chinese intelligence operative.
More than a decade ago, a woman named Christine Fang, often referred to as “Fang Fang,” reportedly developed relationships with several local politicians in California.
According to intelligence officials, Fang was believed to be linked to China’s Ministry of State Security.
She began interacting with Swalwell when he was still serving as a city council member in Dublin, California.
When Swalwell later entered Congress, Fang reportedly continued appearing at political events and even helped raise funds for his 2014 reelection campaign.
Reports also indicated that an intern connected to Fang was placed in Swalwell’s congressional office during that period.
U.S. intelligence officials eventually briefed Swalwell about Fang’s suspected ties in 2015.
Despite that controversy, Swalwell continued his political rise and later served on the House Intelligence Committee before Republicans removed him from the panel in 2023.
Swalwell dismissed the decision as political retaliation, describing it as “purely vengeance.”
Critics Say Pattern Raises National Security Concerns
Some watchdog groups argue the new donations highlight a troubling pattern.
Michael Lucci, founder and CEO of State Armor Action, blasted the situation in strong terms.
“First, Swalwell had a fiery romance with Fang Fang, a CCP honeypot,” Lucci said. “Then he was caught taking campaign money from China’s favorite big law firm. Congressman Swalwell is either totally oblivious to the dangers of flirting with CCP operatives, or he doesn’t care and would take a check from Xi Jinping himself.”
Lucci and other critics argue that the Chinese government has long pursued a strategy of cultivating relationships with rising American politicians early in their careers.
By the time those officials hold higher office, Beijing may already have networks of influence in place.
Legal Questions Still Unanswered
Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from donating to U.S. political campaigns.
That rule applies to federal, state, and local elections.
Because Zhu was born in China and built a career facilitating Chinese investment into the United States, critics say the donations deserve closer examination.
For now, however, Swalwell’s campaign continues to accept the contributions while offering little public explanation.
As the California governor’s race begins to take shape, the controversy could become a major issue.
Opponents argue the situation raises a simple but serious question.
If a politician seeking one of the most powerful state offices in the country is accepting large sums of money from a figure tied to Chinese state-linked investments, voters may want to know exactly who is funding the campaign.
