Key facts
- Thomas Pauken II pleaded guilty to acting as a Chinese agent in the U.S.
- Pauken worked with people employed by the Chinese government for years.
Thomas Pauken II has pleaded guilty to working as a Chinese agent within the United States. This case represents the latest in a series of prosecutions targeting Americans accused of secretly collaborating with Beijing. Pauken, 50, knowingly worked with people employed by the Chinese government for years. The specific details of Pauken's activities and the extent of his alleged work for the Chinese government were not immediately disclosed, but the plea signifies a conviction in the ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to counter foreign influence operations.