Arcadia's former Mayor Eileen Wang, 56, pleaded guilty in a Los Angeles federal court to acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government, in a case that has drawn fresh scrutiny over Beijing's alleged influence operations targeting Chinese-American communities in the United States. Wang faces up to 10 years in prison when she is sentenced in October.

What Wang Admitted in Court

According to Wang's plea agreement, from late 2020 to 2022, she and her former fiancé, Yaoning 'Mike' Sun, operated a website called US News Center, which presented itself as a news source for Chinese Americans. The two allegedly complied with directives from Chinese government officials — sharing requested articles and sending screenshots to Chinese authorities showing how many readers viewed each story.

In 2021, Wang reportedly received a message from a Chinese government official concerning Beijing's position on the Xinjiang issue. The message, reproduced in court filings, read: 'There is no genocide in Xinjiang; there is no such thing as forced labour in any production activity, including cotton production. Spreading such rumour is to defame China, destroy Xinjiang's safety and stability.' Wang subsequently posted an article reflecting that position on her website and shared the link with the official, according to court documents.

Prosecutors also alleged that Wang edited articles at the request of Chinese officials. Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council in 2022 and rotated into the Mayor's post, a ceremonial role that cycles among Council members. She resigned as Mayor in April after her plea agreement was unsealed.

Defence Lawyers Push Back on Framing

Wang's attorneys, Jason Liang and Brian Sun, acknowledged the guilty plea but cautioned against over-interpretation. In a statement, they said her posting of articles 'in no way should be construed as an inherently nefarious act,' and argued that failing to register as a foreign agent 'should not be equated with spying or engaging in acts of espionage on behalf of a foreign country.' They also noted that the conduct described by federal authorities predated Wang's assumption of elected office.

Her co-accused, Sun, was sentenced to four years in prison earlier this year after pleading guilty to related charges of secretly working for China.

Second Case: Journalist Thomas Pauken II Charged in Virginia

In a separate but thematically linked development, Thomas Weir Pauken II — also known as Tom McGregor — an American journalist and political commentator who worked for multiple Chinese state media outlets, has been charged in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia with acting as an unregistered agent for China.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Pauken worked under the direction of individuals linked to China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) and sought to cultivate sources in the United States, including a person reportedly pursuing a role in the Trump administration. According to an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Timothy J. Healy, Pauken had been working 'at the direction and control' of individuals connected to the People's Republic of China (PRC) since at least 2019.

The affidavit states that Pauken's alleged handler, identified only as 'Cathy', assigned him tasks including meeting potential human sources, delivering communication devices, collecting information, and sending reports back to China. 'Cathy' reportedly communicated with Pauken primarily through WeChat, Signal, and Telegram.

According to court filings, Pauken admitted during voluntary FBI interviews that his work with 'Cathy' and others 'was part of a conspiracy to obtain classified information from the United States government.' Prosecutors further alleged that he received $100,000 for reports and assignments, and that his travel between China and the US from 2019 to 2025 was allegedly financed by his Chinese contacts.

Pauken's Media Background and the Trump Connection

Court filings note that Pauken moved to China around 2010 and subsequently worked for China Radio International, China Central Television, China Global Television Network, and later a state news agency described as the 'official state news agency of the PRC.' He reportedly met 'Cathy' around 2017 after being introduced by a man described as one of Chinese President Xi Jinping's speechwriters.

Pauken allegedly told the FBI he was '80 per cent sure' an associate connected to the incoming Trump administration would eventually provide classified information to China, according to reports. He is also accused of providing phones, laptops, and encrypted communications tools to facilitate contact between US-based individuals and his Chinese handlers.

Broader Pattern of Alleged Chinese Influence Operations

The two cases, emerging within days of each other, underscore what US federal prosecutors describe as a sustained and multi-layered effort by Beijing to embed influence across American civic life — from local government to national media. This comes amid heightened US scrutiny of Chinese state-linked networks operating on American soil, with the Department of Justice having pursued a series of related prosecutions over the past several years. Both cases remain active, with Wang's sentencing set for October and Pauken's case still at the charging stage.