Lu Jianwang, one of the accused Chinese spies arrested on suspicion of operating a secret police station in New York City, was shown to have attended dinners and fundraisers with high-level Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Rep. Grace Meng and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, according to an investigation by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The Daily Caller’s investigation uncovered photos of the events showing Lu in attendance alongside the top Democratic lawmakers.
Federal agents arrested Lu Jianwang, 61, and Chen Jinping, 59, on Monday, accusing the pair of acting as agents for the People’s Republic of China in connection with the “overseas police station,” as the FBI described it, the New York Times reported.
Federal prosecutor Breon Peace stated, “This prosecution reveals the Chinese government’s flagrant violation of our nation’s sovereignty by establishing a secret police station in the middle of New York City.”
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The Chinese police outpost was allegedly one of more than 100 that have been documented in dozens of countries, which officials are increasingly worried about as a way for China to spy and keep tabs on its people abroad.
The Chinese Embassy has said “there is no need to make people nervous” about the operations, which it said are staffed by volunteers helping Chinese nationals with routine tasks like renewing their Chinese driver’s licenses, as reported by the Times.
