Sino-American Loyalty

Feinstein was 'mortified' by FBI allegation that staffer was spy for China

By Lukas Mikelionis 

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein fired a staffer a few years back who was part of an effort to spy and pass on political intelligence to the Chinese government.
The staffer, based in the Democrat's San Francisco office, was delivering political intelligence to officials based at the local Chinese Consulate, Politico reported.
The FBI informed Feinstein, the then-chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, about five years ago about the staffer and allegations that the staffer was a spy.

The source who confirmed the incident to the San Francisco Chronicle said “Dianne was mortified” upon learning about it.
The Chinese spy served as the lawmaker’s driver in California, but took on other roles as well, including helping out in her San Francisco office and being Feinstein’s liaison to the Sino-American community in the state. 

He attended Chinese Consulate events on behalf of the senator.
The spy’s handler “got an award back in China” for his efforts to penetrate Feinstein’s office and pass on intelligence.

The driver was recruited years ago after he being befriended on one of the trips to Asia by someone from China’s Ministry of State Security, the country’s intelligence and security agency, the Chronicle reported.
“He didn’t even know what was happening — that he was being recruited,” a source told the publication. 

“He just thought it was some friend.”
The FBI wasn’t able to charge the individual, possibly because he was passing on political intelligence rather than classified materials – making the prosecution nearly impossible.
“They interviewed him, and Dianne forced him to retire, and that was the end of it,” the Chronicle’s source said. 

“None of her staff ever knew what was going on. They just kept it quiet.”

Presidential Interests

Top Democrats demand answers on Trump’s China trademark
By AUSTIN WRIGHT
Sen. Dianne Feinstein has previously argued the trademark deal could violate the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause. 

Three senior Senate Democrats are seeking answers from the State Department on China’s decision to grant a trademark to the Trump Organization — a decision the senators say could violate the Constitution.
Sens. Ben Cardin of Maryland, Dianne Feinstein of California and Jack Reed of Rhode Island wrote to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday asking for more details on the trademark, which Donald Trump had been seeking for more than a decade but wasn’t granted until soon after being elected president.
Feinstein has previously argued the trademark deal could violate the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which bars government officials from accepting gifts and payments from foreign countries.
“The possibility that the government of China is seeking to win President Trump’s favor by granting him special treatment for his businesses is disturbing,” the three senators said in their letter. 

“As you may be aware, for more than a decade the Trump Organization sought to receive this trademark registration without success.”
A trademark for Trump’s brand in China, they write, “is a highly valuable commodity.” 

The senators add that Trump’s refusal to divest himself from his businesses means that he “continues to benefit directly from the financial success of the Trump Organization.”
They're asking Tillerson to provide answers to a number of questions, including information on discussions between Trump’s presidential transition team and China.
Cardin, Feinstein and Reed are the top Democrats on the Foreign Relations, Judiciary and Armed Services Committees, respectively.