(LibertySociety.com) – A conservative legal group, the America First Legal Foundation (AFL), has launched an investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, raising alarms about his longstanding ties to China. These concerns come now that he’s the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, and AFL claims that his relationship with China could have serious national security risks.
On Monday, AFL sent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to the Minnesota governor’s office, the FBI, and the Justice Department. They are seeking documents related to Walz’s connections with China. The group is worried about his frequent trips to China and his connections to Chinese academic and political groups, which could be problematic, given his new role. Walz’s numerous visits to China, dating back decades, and his professional ties to institutions in the country are at the center of AFL’s concerns.
With Walz set to receive classified security briefings as a vice-presidential candidate, AFL believes the American people have a right to know the full extent of his ties to China. AFL lawyer Michael Ding wrote in a letter to the FBI, “If Governor Walz is in any way connected to a foreign communist power, whether knowingly or not, the American people need to be informed before the election.”
Walz’s relationship with China has come under greater scrutiny since Vice President Kamala Harris selected him as her running mate. Walz has visited China more than 30 times since the 1980s and once served as a fellow at a Chinese university known for promoting loyalty to China. Earlier this month, Republicans on the House Oversight Committee launched their own investigation into Walz’s ties to China, but they say the FBI has yet to respond to their requests.
In its FOIA request, AFL asked for any documents related to Chinese government-backed programs like Confucius Institutes, as well as communication between Walz and members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). They also raised concerns about his connections with the Hormel Institute at the University of Minnesota, which has worked with Chinese institutions, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
AFL emphasized that these documents are crucial ahead of the election, arguing the American people need the truth.
Copyright 2024, LibertySociety.com
