US journalist accused of secretly working with China-linked contacts, allegedly prepared political reports intended for Xi Jinping

A US-based journalist and political commentator who spent years working in China has been charged by federal authorities with allegedly acting as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government.

Thomas Pauken II, a commentator and author who lived in China for more than a decade, is accused of carrying out activities on behalf of Chinese government-linked contacts without properly registering with the US attorney general, according to federal court documents reported by Politico.

FBI alleges reports were intended for Xi Jinping

According to an FBI affidavit referenced by Politico, Pauken allegedly worked with individuals connected to China’s Ministry of State Security, the country’s primary civilian intelligence agency.

Investigators claim Pauken prepared confidential political reports for a Chinese handler who allegedly said the material would be passed along to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Authorities also allege Pauken took a lie detector test at the request of one of his Chinese contacts and attempted to connect Chinese operatives with a US-based individual for pursuing a role in the Trump administration.

The affidavit reportedly states Pauken later told the FBI he was “80 percent sure” the unnamed associate would eventually provide classified information to China, despite warnings not to do so.

That person was not hired for the exact administration role originally sought but currently works for a US government agency, according to the filing cited by Politico.

Pauken was arrested in February 2026 and has remained in federal custody since then. Court records show a magistrate judge denied his request for pretrial release in March.

The investigation reportedly involved an extended FBI counterintelligence operation. After initially confronting Pauken in January 2025, federal agents allegedly instructed him to continue interacting with his Chinese contacts “as if nothing had changed,” believing an abrupt break in communication could place him at risk.

According to the affidavit, agents later monitored a meeting at a Washington hotel where Pauken allegedly handed over a SIM card and discussed payments of up to $10,000 in exchange for weekly reports designed to “influence policy” and allegedly be reviewed by Xi Jinping.

He was arrested shortly after the meeting, according to Politico’s report.

Defense says Pauken was not engaged in espionage

Pauken’s attorney, Charles Burnham, has argued that the case should not be portrayed as a traditional espionage prosecution.

“It’s critical to understand that Mr. Pauken is not charged with spying or mishandling classified information,” Burnham said in a statement quoted by Politico. “The government’s complaint charges that Mr. Pauken did professional work for a foreign government without first completing certain required paperwork.”

Federal prosecutors charged Pauken under a law that makes it a crime to act on behalf of a foreign government inside the United States without notifying the attorney general. The statute carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

According to the FBI affidavit, Pauken worked with several Chinese state-controlled media organizations while living in China, including China Radio International, China Central Television (CCTV), China Global Television Network (CGTN) and Xinhua News Agency.

He also wrote under the pseudonym “Tom McGregor” and authored the 2019 book US Vs China: From Trade War To Reciprocal Deal, which presented itself as offering a balanced perspective on US-China relations and trade disputes.

Investigators allege Pauken used the pseudonym at the request of his father, longtime Republican politician Tom Pauken, who reportedly did not want to be publicly associated with his son’s activities in China.

Tom Pauken served in the Reagan administration, later chaired the Texas Republican Party and mounted an unsuccessful run for Texas governor in 2014.

According to court filings, the younger Pauken told investigators many of his Chinese contacts showed significant interest in his father and his political connections.