U.S. journalist gets 2 year sentence for acting as agent for China, DOJ says
Summary
An American journalist named Thomas Pauken was sentenced to two years in prison for secretly working for the Chinese government in the U.S. He pleaded guilty and will also face three years of supervised release without leaving the country.Key Facts
- Thomas Weir Pauken II, 51, admitted to acting as an agent for China's government.
- Pauken worked for Chinese state media, including Xinhua and CCTV, after moving to China in 2010.
- He was paid at least $100,000 for supporting Chinese intelligence activities, including recruiting for classified information.
- Pauken used the alias Tom McGregor while working as a commentator at his father's request.
- He was arrested in February after being stopped by U.S. Customs in January 2025.
- Pauken’s lawyer said he did not share any classified information with China.
- Pauken's father is a former Texas Republican Party chairman who ran for governor.
- The Justice Department emphasized holding people accountable for aiding Chinese espionage efforts.
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