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The son of a well-known Texas Republican politician has become embroiled in a shocking federal investigation, accused of channeling sensitive information to China.
Thomas Pauken II, an American author and political commentator who spent a significant amount of time residing in China, is alleged to have served as an intermediary for contacts associated with Beijing. These contacts reportedly offered financial incentives to sway U.S. policy from within the federal government.
Pauken, whose father, Thomas Pauken I, once campaigned for the governorship of Texas, is now confronting a felony charge. The charge accuses him of operating as an agent for the Chinese government in the United States without the necessary registration with the attorney general.
According to federal investigators, Pauken is accused of producing confidential reports for a handler linked to Chinese intelligence. This handler purportedly indicated that the information would eventually be relayed to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
An FBI affidavit submitted in federal court further details that Pauken provided electronic devices to another individual who was pursuing employment within the Trump administration. Subsequently, he allegedly offered the same person a profitable deal in exchange for weekly policy-related reports.
The allegations have thrust Pauken, who wrote under the pen name Tom McGregor while working in China, into the center of an increasingly tense standoff between Washington and Beijing over espionage, foreign influence and national security.
Court documents obtained by Politico say Pauken was first confronted by US authorities after returning from China in January 2025.
But instead of immediately arresting him, investigators allegedly instructed him to continue behaving normally out of concern that abruptly cutting ties could place him in danger from China’s Ministry of State Security.
FBI Special Agent Timothy Healy wrote in the affidavit that Pauken was specifically warned not to alert Chinese officials about his contact with American law enforcement.
Thomas Pauken II, an American political commentator who lived in China for more than a decade, is accused of secretly acting on behalf of the Chinese government inside the US
Federal investigators allege Pauken prepared confidential political reports for a Chinese handler who claimed the material would ultimately be read by Chinese President Xi Jinping
More than a year later, according to prosecutors, the FBI monitored a meeting at a Washington hotel where Pauken allegedly met with another man connected to the scheme.
During that encounter, investigators say Pauken handed over a SIM card and discussed a plan under which the individual would provide ‘one report per week’ that could ‘influence policy and be read by Xi Jinping.’
Authorities also allege Pauken promised the man a $10,000 bonus if he agreed to cooperate with Pauken’s Chinese handler.
The identity of the second individual has not been publicly disclosed.
Court papers state that the person did not land the exact Trump administration role he initially pursued, but now works for a US government agency.
The FBI affidavit says Pauken admitted believing there was an ’80 percent chance’ the individual would ultimately provide classified information to China, despite Pauken claiming he warned him against doing so.
Pauken, however, allegedly told investigators that he personally pushed back against repeated requests from his Chinese contact for classified material.
His attorney, Charles Burnham, forcefully disputed suggestions that Pauken was engaged in espionage.
Pauken II’s father, Thomas Pauken I, ran for governor of Texas in 2014
Court documents say Pauken, right, offered another man a $10,000 bonus to provide weekly policy-related reports that could ‘influence policy’ in Washington
FBI agents claim Pauken delivered a cellphone and laptop to the unidentified government employee on behalf of his Chinese contact network
‘It’s critical to understand that Mr Pauken is not charged with spying or mishandling classified information,’ Burnham said in a statement.
‘The government’s complaint charges that Mr Pauken did professional work for a foreign government without first completing certain required paperwork. We look forward to responding to the government’s allegations in court.’
Federal prosecutors have so far remained tight-lipped about the case.
The US Attorney’s Office in Alexandria have not clarified whether the unnamed government employee identified in the affidavit faces scrutiny or possible charges.
The secrecy surrounding the case has only deepened intrigue.
Unlike many foreign influence or espionage-related prosecutions, the Justice Department did not issue a public press release announcing Pauken’s arrest.