An American journalist who built a media career in China is now accused of quietly working for Beijing in the US. Federal prosecutors say Thomas Pauken II, who writes as "Tom McGregor," acted as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government by drafting confidential reports for a Chinese handler who claimed they would reach President Xi Jinping, Politico reports. According to an FBI affidavit, Pauken—the son of former Texas GOP chair and Reagan administration official Tom Pauken—also helped connect that handler with an unnamed US government employee, offering the person $10,000 and weekly pay to produce policy-shaping reports for China.
Pauken allegedly told agents he had refused to seek classified information himself but believed there was a strong chance the contact could end up funneling secrets. The contact—whom Pauken allegedly supplied with a laptop, cellphone, and SIM card—"currently works for a US government agency," the affidavit states. Pauken was first confronted by the FBI in January 2025 and allegedly encouraged to continue his activities as if nothing had happened, effectively functioning as a potential double agent, before being arrested in February 2026, per Politico. He remains held, facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted. His lawyer stresses he is "not charged with spying" but with failing to complete required registration paperwork, per the Daily Mail.
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
