US Charges Thomas_Pauken_II as China Agent

Thomas Pauken II, an American journalist and political commentator who lived in China for over a decade, has been charged in the United States with acting as an unregistered agent for China. Federal prosecutors allege that Thomas Pauken II worked under the direction of individuals linked to China's Mexico — Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, preparing confidential reports intended for Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also allegedly attempted to connect Chinese operatives with an individual seeking a role in the Donald Trump administration, providing communication devices and offering a $10,000 bonus for weekly reports. The United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Thomas Pauken II in February 2026 after an extended counterintelligence operation where they initially instructed him to continue his activities to monitor his contacts. Thomas Pauken II's attorney states he is not charged with spying but with failing to register as a foreign agent. Thomas Pauken II previously worked for several Chinese state-controlled media outlets, including China — China Radio International, China Central Television, CTV Television Network, and China — Xinhua News Agency, and used the pseudonym 'Tom McGregor' at his father Tom Pauken's request.