<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/25/american-journalist-unregistered-agent-china-00935518" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas Pauken II</a>, a journalist and political commentator originally from the United States, was sentenced to two years in prison on September 1, 2026, after being found to have acted as "an agent of a foreign government" while in the country.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Pauken has lived in China since 2010, working for several state media organizations. He was <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/25/american-journalist-unregistered-agent-china-00935518" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">arrested</a> in February 2026 after arriving in Washington, D.C., from <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/china/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">China</a>, where he was planning to meet with an individual seeking a position in the Trump administration. An affidavit <a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-illegal-agent-fbi-journalist-a788684d3b2fd20478f66cb179b69ad0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">revealed</a> that Pauken attempted to bribe this individual, offering a SIM card and $10,000 to prepare reports for Chinese President Xi Jinping.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In June 2026, he pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government. The Justice Department stated he was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. Pauken will also be <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/american-citizen-who-worked-agent-prc-sentenced-two-years-prison" rel="noopener" target="_blank">prohibited</a> from overseas travel due to his actions.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division reported that Pauken planned to share vital and confidential information about the U.S. with Chinese officials.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Thomas Pauken admitted to working at the direction of China’s Ministry of State Security to attempt to infiltrate U.S. political circles while also providing new recruitment targets for his Chinese handlers,” said Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “This case illustrates the lengths to which the Chinese Communist Party will go to undermine our democratic institutions, and it also demonstrates the FBI’s resolve to defend the homeland from threats to our national security. The sentencing provides a clear warning: anyone operating as an agent of a foreign government against the U.S. will be found by the FBI and held accountable.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Pauken authored the 2019 book <em>U.S. vs. China: From Trade War to Reciprocal Deal</em>, which discussed presenting a “neutral and balanced perspective” on U.S.-China trade relations. He is the son of former Reagan administration official and Texas Republican Party chair Tom Pauken. In his writings, he used the pseudonym Tom McGregor at his father's request to avoid linking his father to his activities with China, according to <em>Politico</em>.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Court documents revealed Pauken’s extensive work in aiding the Chinese government, as reported by the Justice Department. Between 2017 and 2026, he provided reports believed to have been distributed to Chinese government officials, including President Xi Jinping.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Pauken worked at the direction and control of individuals he knew worked for the PRC, including a person he met in 2017 identified as ‘Cathy,’” stated a Justice Department press release. “Cathy provided Pauken with taskings, including meeting with potential intelligence assets, providing them with devices such as a laptop and cellphone to communicate with her, and gathering reports from these assets.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He also sold information to Chinese representatives from Wuhan who sought sensitive information about U.S. government affairs, including technology and the U.S. Department of Justice. Additionally, the Wuhan representatives wanted Pauken to “find an expert to help them engage in cyber espionage.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Pauken exploited his U.S. citizenship and corresponding ability to travel to the U.S. without restriction in order to support Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) operations, recruiting, and gathering sensitive information from potential assets,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Pauken betrayed his country for money. The National Security Division is committed to holding accountable anyone who aids or abets Chinese espionage efforts.”</p>