American Journalist Gets Prison Time After Working As Agent Of CCP

An American journalist will spend two years in prison for his role in a scheme orchestrated by a Chinese intelligence officer to steal classified information from the United States government. 

Thomas Pauken II was convicted in June 2026 after he admitted to working as an unregistered agent for China from 2019 to 2026. Pauken, who wrote for Chinese state media outlet Xinhua News, worked closely with a person tied to China’s Ministry of State Security.

“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 of sensitive information from potential assets,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg. “Pauken betrayed his country for money.”

According to prosecutors, a Chinese intelligence officer known as “Cathy” directed Pauken to meet with human sources in the United States, provide those sources with laptops and cellphones, and send their reports back to China. Cathy paid Pauken at least $100,000 during the time she worked with him and paid for his travel from China to the United States to recruit individuals to give them information. 

During his sentencing hearing, Pauken told federal Judge Leonie Brinkema that he his actions were “shocking” and “terrible.” 

“I learned a lot of secrets and I did tell the Chinese about these secrets,” Pauken said, according to Politico. “I thought I was helping, but now I realize I could’ve caused even more damage, including war.”

In February 2026, Pauken was arrested after an apparent FBI sting operation during a recorded meeting at a Washington, D.C., hotel. 

At the meeting, Pauken met with an unidentified U.S. government employee who had sought a job in the Trump administration and whom Pauken had been attempting to recruit on Cathy’s behalf. Prosecutors said Cathy wanted the official to produce reports she claimed would make their way to Chinese President Xi Jinping and shape policy. 

The 50-year-old Pauken, who never handled classified documents himself, could have faced up to 10 years in prison. He has lived in China since 2010. 

“Thomas Pauken knowingly assisted a foreign adversary in actively subverting the government of the United States for his own financial gain,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani Stamos. “It is unconscionable that an American citizen would not only undermine the interests of the United States, but also facilitate others in doing so.”

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