Thomas Weir Pauken II, a 50-year-old American citizen who lived and worked in China, pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of the People's Republic of China

The Justice Department says an American journalist has pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government.

According to court documents, Thomas Weir Pauken II worked at the ‘direction and control’ of Chinese officials for at least seven years.

Thomas Weir Pauken II, a 50-year-old American citizen who lived and worked in China, pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of the People's Republic of China

Pauken was arrested in February after arriving in Washington from China. Between 2019 and 2025, Pauken received $100,000 for the reports he provided.

Thomas Pauken II se enfrenta a una pena de hasta 10 años de prisión.