American journalist charged with serving as unregistered agent for China

An American journalist and political commentator who has lived in China for more than a decade is facing a criminal charge in the U.S. of acting as an agent for the Chinese government.

Thomas Pauken II allegedly prepared confidential reports that his Chinese handler told him were being conveyed to Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to an affidavit FBI Special Agent Timothy Healy submitted in federal court. Pauken also took a lie detector test at the request of his Chinese contact and provided a cell phone and laptop to another individual in the U.S. who was seeking a job in the Trump administration, Healy wrote.