Thomas Pauken II Charged as Chinese Agent Over $10,000 Recruitment Offer
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 26
Thomas Pauken II Charged as Chinese Agent Over $10,000 Recruitment Offer
11 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 26
Thomas Pauken II, an American journalist who lived in China for more than a decade, was charged with acting as an agent of China after the FBI said he prepared confidential reports relayed to President Xi Jinping.
An FBI affidavit says Pauken took part in an apparent February sting at a Washington hotel, offering an unnamed Trump administration official a SIM card and a $10,000 bonus to work with his Chinese handler.
Pauken allegedly told the FBI he was "80 percent sure" that "Person 1" would provide China with classified information, though his lawyer said the case is about failing to register foreign-government work, not spying.
The case was kept unusually quiet by the Justice Department, remained sealed for about 10 days after Pauken's March court appearance, and could move quickly toward a plea deal ahead of a pre-indictment hearing Friday.
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