Kim Campaign Donors Caught In the Middle of Chinese Foreign Influence Campaign
As reports come out on how President Trump has “pleaded” with President Xi of China for help in Trump’s reelection bid, new reporting from the Wall Street Journal showed that Chinese Communist Party-linked businessmen worked with donors of Young Kim’s Congressional campaign in order to open doors for Chinese nationals to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations to Trump and the RNC’s reelection efforts.
Those same individuals at the center of this growing international scandal also just happen to be long-time supporters of Young Kim’s failed Congressional bids.
As reported last week in the Wall Street Journal, Chinese American Tian Wang contributed to Trump’s reelection campaign in exchange for access and reported back to Chinese officials. Wang was reported to be an Orange County resident who contributed $150K to Trump’s campaign and $3.7K to Young Kim in 2018. Wang’s political matchmaker during his influence campaign was none other than Young Kim max-out donor and supporter, Shawn Steel.
Now, the DCCC is calling on Young Kim again to talk to her consultants and disavow this foreign influence campaign and return the $14,700 in donations she received from Wang and Steel.
Reminder – this is not the first time Young Kim has been involved with shady fundraisers who have been under Federal investigation for their work on behalf of Trump’s reelection. None of this should come as a total surprise though, as Young Kim is a creature of Trump’s Washington Swamp.
Statement from DCCC Press Secretary Andy Orellana:
“The voters of Orange County are tired of quid pro quo politics, especially when foreign interests campaigns are attempting to influence our elections. Not only did these individuals buy and sell access to the Trump Administration to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars but they are also donors to Young Kim’s failed Congressional bid. She should return this $14,700 in tainted money.”
| Shawn Steel Donations to Young Kim | |
| Date | Amount |
| 7/30/2019 | $2,800 |
| 6/30/2019 | $2,800 |
| 6/13/2018 | $2,700 |
| 5/29/2018 | $700 |
| 3/31/2018 | $2,000 |
| Total: | $11,000 |
[FEC, accessed 6/30/20]
| Tian Wang Donations to Michelle Steel | |
| Date | Amount |
| 8/29/2018 | $1,000 |
| 6/5/2018 | $2,700 |
| Total: | $3,700 |
[FEC, accessed 6/30/20]
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