Recent reports reveal that Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) has had multiple interactions with an alleged Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operative, Lu Jianwang, who the FBI arrested on April 17. Lu is accused of “opening and operating an illegal overseas police station” within the nonprofit America Changle Association’s Manhattan headquarters. Photos and news reports from various Chinese-language news sites show Meng attending events held by Chinese-American organizations alongside Lu since 2016.
Meng’s press secretary stated that while the congresswoman may have encountered Lu at community events, she had no personal relationship with him and was unaware of any allegations against him until the news broke. Nevertheless, Meng’s presence at key moments in America Changle’s history, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the launch of their Manhattan headquarters, has raised questions about her ties to the organization and the alleged CCP police station operated by Lu.
Where are the media investigations? Where are the federal investigations? https://t.co/3AIRVO4Zfy
— Bill R (@billyrr3) May 1, 2023
In addition to Meng, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) were also seen attending events alongside Lu, according to a video from March 18. Adams’ office responded by saying his attendance at events does not signal any endorsement, and a spokesperson for Schumer said he had never met Lu and did not know who he was.
Lu and another arrestee, Chen Jinping, allegedly admitted to the FBI that they had deleted communications with an official from China’s Ministry of Public Security off their phones. Human rights group Safeguard Defenders had previously identified America Changle’s Manhattan office as one of many police stations established overseas by the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Salih Hudayar, the East Turkistan Government-in-Exile prime minister (ETGE), believes that New York politicians like Meng owe the American public an explanation. Hudayar stated that Meng should have been the first to sound the alarm about her constituents facing threats from the CCP. It is known to target Chinese Americans by threatening family members still living in China.
Meng’s ties to Lu Jianwang and America Changle have come under scrutiny following the revelation that Lu donated $600 to Meng’s congressional campaign. The Lu brothers have donated more than $30,000 to New York Democratic politicians.
Hudayar warned that China is encroaching on all levels of American society to weaken it from within, emphasizing the need for immediate action. With Meng’s connections to an alleged CCP operative now in the spotlight, the question remains whether her constituents’ interests and security have been adequately protected from foreign influence.
