Another day, another Chinese spy in the United States is exposed.
Whether it's scientists, military men, mayors, limo drivers, political aides, honey pots, or journalists we can't seem to go a few weeks without hearing about a Chinese spy who has been happily undermining the United States for their undying loyalty to China and money.
Yes, an American journalist has pleaded guilty to acting on behalf of China.
In case you weren't already aware that journalists have a lot in common with the world's oldest profession.
Here's the AP:
An American journalist who has lived in China since 2010 and worked for several state media organizations there pleaded guilty in a U.S. court Thursday to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, the Justice Department said.
Thomas Pauken II is set to be sentenced Sept. 1 in a U.S. District Court and he faces up to 10 years in jail, the department said. He writes under the name Tom McGregor to distance himself from his father with the same name, who was a former chairman of the Texas Republican Party in the 1990s and ran for governor more than a decade ago.
It is the latest in a string of cases that the federal government has brought against people suspected of working for the Chinese government without proper disclosure.
American journalists and children of top Republicans are moving to China to work as spies for the Chi-Comms. And it's like the United States is just now waking up to the fact that China is literally spying on and undermining the United States in every single facet of our lives.
And this case goes well beyond bought and paid for journalistic propaganda.
Pauken was arrested in February after arriving in Washington from China. He met with someone who had sought a job in the Trump administration to provide that person with a SIM card and offer $10,000 to write reports to be read by Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to the affidavit.
He appeared to see himself as a middleman between Chinese agents and "human resources" who could provide classified information to Beijing, according to the affidavit. His lawyer didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Since at least 2019, Pauken had been working with Chinese agents, including "Cathy," who he believed to be working for China's security apparatus. Between 2019 and 2025, Pauken received $100,000 for the reports he provided to Cathy, in addition to paid trips to the U.S., the affidavit says. Cathy told him the reports were to be read by Xi.
He's worked as a middleman for Xi to get classified info from both Trump and Biden it would appear to hand over to the Chinese government.
And we want to act all friendly with China still? We want thousands of their students pouring into our universities every year?
Pauken was stopped by Customs and Border Protection agents when he returned to the U.S. in January 2025. In interviews with CBP and FBI agents, Pauken said he was meeting a person who was seeking a job in the Trump administration and would provide that person with a Samsung phone and a laptop computer. He said he was "80% sure" that person, if hired by the new administration, would provide classified information to Beijing, according to the affidavit.
U.S. agents let Pauken go and instructed him to carry on with his plans. Pauken's contact said in an interview that Pauken asked for open-source information but also indicated his clients in China frequently asked for more secretive information. That person indicated having no intention of working with Pauken, the affidavit said.
A year later, Pauken returned to the U.S. to make another pitch to this person, with whom Pauken had reconnected over a possible commercial oil deal, according to the affidavit. They met at a Washington restaurant on Feb. 23 and again two days later at a hotel, where the FBI monitored the meeting.
He was caught red-handed and turned state's evidence to help track down the Americans involved in selling secrets to China, and now pleading guilty for spying.
Pauken gave the person a SIM card and proposed the $10,000 bonus for providing Cathy with weekly reports that would "influence policy and be read by Xi Jinping," the affidavit says.
Database checks showed that Pauken did not register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act or notify the U.S. attorney general that he was acting as an agent for China, the affidavit says.
The Justice Department said Pauken also sold reports to a group of Chinese individuals from the central city of Wuhan, who sought information about technology and the Justice Department and wanted Pauken to find an expert to help them engage in cyberespionage.
Here's hoping Pauken didn't buy his way out of a harsh sentence with this plea.
Being a traitor and a spy used to have real consequences.
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