2 Chinese agents charged by DOJ for targeting Falun Gong in US.

Two men have been charged with attempting to bribe a public official with tens of thousands of dollars in a scheme to help the Chinese Communist Party “topple” the persecuted faith group Falun Gong. This marks the first prosecution from U.S. authorities to deter the Chinese regime from carrying out its persecution campaign targeting Falun Gong, a meditative practice featuring truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance that Beijing has determined to eradicate since 1999.

The Scheme

John Chen, a 70-year-old U.S. citizen born in China, and Lin Feng, a Chinese citizen aged 43, have attempted to “manipulate the IRS Whistleblower Program, through bribery and deceit,” to strip a Falun Gong-run entity of its tax-exempt status, according to court filings unsealed on May 26.

The Arrest

Chen and Feng, who reside in California’s Chino City and Los Angeles respectively, were arrested from their residences early Friday morning. The two face charges of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering. They will appear in District Court for the Central District of California on the same day.

The Response

“Efforts to manipulate and use the arms of the U.S. Government to carry out the PRC Government’s autocratic aims are as shocking as they are insidious,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in a statement announcing the charges.

“The Chinese government has yet again attempted, and failed, to target critics of the PRC here in the United States,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. He added that the Justice Department “will continue to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute efforts by the PRC government to silence its critics and extend the reaches of its regime onto U.S. soil” and “defend the rights to which every person in the United States is entitled.”

The Plan

From January to May, Chen and Feng worked under the direction of Chinese officials to engage in a bribery campaign targeting Falun Gong. Discussing the plan in a recorded call around Jan. 21, Chen indicated his goal to achieve the Chinese regime’s aim to “topple” Falun Gong, noting that the Chinese “leadership” would be “very generous” in funding the illicit payments, according to the court document.

The FBI’s Response

“China’s government has once again shown its disregard for the rule of law and international norms,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. He vowed that his agency will “continue to confront the Chinese government’s efforts to violate our laws and repress the rights and freedoms of people in our country.”

The Takeaway

This case highlights the Chinese regime’s disregard for the rule of law and international norms, and the lengths it will go to silence its critics. It also shows the commitment of U.S. authorities to defend the rights and freedoms of every person in the United States.