{"id":29446,"date":"2026-01-08T16:38:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:38:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=29446"},"modified":"2026-01-08T16:38:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:38:53","slug":"rubio-fires-officer-over-hidden-relationship-with-daughter-of-ccp-official-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=29446","title":{"rendered":"Rubio Fires Officer Over Hidden Relationship with Daughter of CCP Official"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A U.S. State Department foreign service officer has been fired after being caught on hidden camera admitting to a secret romantic relationship with the daughter of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) affiliate\u2014a connection he failed to disclose to U.S. security officials, according to statements released Wednesday.<\/p>\n

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The officer, identified as Daniel Choi, was terminated following an internal review ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and approved by President Donald Trump, the department confirmed.<\/p>\n

The decision came after footage surfaced from an O\u2019Keefe Media Group (OMG) undercover investigation in which Choi acknowledged that his girlfriend\u2019s father was \u201cstraight-up Communist Party\u201d and that she \u201ccould have been a spy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cI defied my government for love,\u201d Choi said in the secretly recorded video published by OMG, in which he discussed knowingly concealing the relationship from State Department officials despite being required to report any close personal contact with foreign nationals.<\/p>\n

A State Department spokesperson\u00a0told reporters<\/a>\u00a0that, to their knowledge, this is the first time an officer has been terminated under the authority granted by Executive Order 14211, which President Trump signed earlier this year to strengthen accountability within the diplomatic corps.<\/p>\n

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The order states that \u201call officers or employees charged with implementing the foreign policy of the United States must, under Article II, do so under the direction and authority of the President,\u201d adding that \u201cfailure to faithfully implement the President\u2019s policy is grounds for professional discipline, including separation.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement announcing the dismissal, the department said:<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Foreign Service Officer admitted to concealing a romantic relationship with a Chinese national, whom he said on camera \u2018could have been a spy.\u2019 He also said that her father was \u2018straight-up Communist Party.\u2019 The officer was required to report this contact to Department security officials, but said, \u2018I defied my government for love.\u2019 Accordingly, the Secretary recommended that the officer be separated for failing to faithfully implement the President\u2019s foreign policy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Choi\u2019s case underscores growing concerns within the U.S. government over Chinese intelligence-gathering through personal and professional relationships with American officials. For years, counterintelligence experts have warned that Beijing uses romantic entanglements, financial incentives, and academic ties to collect sensitive information from U.S. personnel.<\/p>\n

\u201cRomantic and social connections remain one of the most exploited vectors in Chinese espionage,\u201d said a former senior intelligence official familiar with State Department security procedures. \u201cAn unreported relationship like this represents a massive vulnerability, no matter how innocent it may appear.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the State Department declined to detail the internal investigation, officials confirmed that Choi\u2019s failure to report the relationship violated long-standing security protocols designed to protect against coercion or compromise by foreign entities.<\/p>\n

Foreign service officers are required to immediately disclose any \u201cclose and continuing contact\u201d with foreign nationals who may have ties to hostile governments.<\/p>\n

Choi reportedly told the undercover journalist that his girlfriend\u2019s father was either a provincial or federal education minister within the CCP structure, adding, \u201cShe could have been a spy \u2014 I don\u2019t even know.\u201d<\/p>\n

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After the video\u2019s release, Secretary Rubio moved quickly to recommend termination, citing national security concerns and the need to enforce accountability across diplomatic ranks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a clear case of misconduct and potential compromise,\u201d a State Department official said on background. \u201cEvery officer takes an oath to serve the United States and to uphold our security standards. No one is above that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rubio has taken a hard line on countering Chinese influence within U.S. institutions since becoming Secretary of State, tightening vetting procedures for foreign contacts and expanding background checks for personnel stationed in East Asia and Washington-based policy roles.<\/p>\n

Rumors have begun to swirl that Rubio could be on the 2028 presidential ticket with Vice President JD Vance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n