The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is allegedly at least semi-officially concerned about Tim Walz’s Chinese connections. Leaked messages from a DHS group chat reflect that at least some officials are worried that the Chinese government has groomed Walz and that he could be used to influence U.S. policy. Additional intelligence reports were also allegedly leaked to the House Oversight Committee that are said to document Walz’s connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
House Oversight Committee releases allegedly leaked DHS messages about Walz’s Chinese connections
According to Fox News, both the chat between DHS officials and intelligence reports about Walz were allegedly leaked to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, who launched an investigation into Walz’s ties to China in August. Comer subpoenaed DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in response to those leaks for additional records concerning any investigations into Walz’s connections with China.
However, DHS has remained unresponsive to the subpoena. In response, Comer has released an unclassified message from the alleged DHS group chat.
It reads:
“Walt’s [sic] got the Vp. You all have no idea how this feeds into what prc has been doing here with him and local gov. It’s seriously a line of the intel. Target someone who is perceived they can get to DC”
According to the letter from Comer to Mayorkas, this is just one example of communications within the agency where DHS officials express concern about the CCP attempting to influence politicians.
Walz continues to be under fire by critics for his connections to China. The Democrat vice presidential candidate allegedly has visited the country around “30 times,” according to Comer, and has been linked to several pro-CCP organizations such as the Macau Polytechnic University and National Convention for the U.S. China People’s Friendship Association. While Walz hasn’t been accused of being overtly pro-CCP, some fear that he is susceptible to being manipulated by agents of the Chinese government.