US journalist pleads guilty to working as China's agent

Thomas Weir Pauken II, 50, knowingly worked with people employed by the Chinese government for years.

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Thomas Weir Pauken II, 50, "admitted to being part of a conspiracy to obtain sensitive information from the US government" for China, US Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg said.

Court filings show that Pauken had been living in China since 2010 and had worked for several media organisations there, including CCTV and Xinhua News.

Pauken worked "at the direction and control of people he knew worked for the PRC" from at least 2019 until February this year, according to court documents.

Among the people Pauken worked with was a person identified as "Cathy", whom the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said provided him with "taskings, including meeting with potential intelligence assets".