A U.S. State Department foreign service officer has been terminated after an undercover investigation revealed he concealed a romantic relationship with the daughter of a Chinese Communist Party official, violating security protocols.
Daniel Choi was fired following an internal review ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and approved by President Donald Trump. The dismissal came after O’Keefe Media Group released footage in which Choi admitted to hiding the relationship from federal security officials.
What the Investigation Revealed
In the secretly recorded video, Choi acknowledged that his girlfriend’s father was affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party and that she “could have been a spy.” He stated, “I defied my government for love,” while discussing his decision to conceal the relationship from State Department officials.
Foreign service officers are required to immediately report any close personal contact with foreign nationals, particularly those with ties to hostile governments. Choi admitted he knowingly violated this requirement.
According to the State Department, Choi’s girlfriend’s father held a position within the CCP structure, potentially as a provincial or federal education minister. The officer told the undercover journalist, “She could have been a spy – I don’t even know.”
The Legal Framework
This marks the first termination under Executive Order 14211, signed by President Trump to strengthen accountability within the diplomatic corps. The order permits separation of officers who fail to faithfully implement the President’s foreign policy.
The State Department stated in its announcement: “The Foreign Service Officer admitted to concealing a romantic relationship with a Chinese national, whom he said on camera ‘could have been a spy.’ The officer was required to report this contact to Department security officials.”
Broader Security Concerns
Intelligence experts have long warned that China uses romantic relationships to gather sensitive information from American officials. A former senior intelligence official noted, “Romantic and social connections remain one of the most exploited vectors in Chinese espionage.”
Unreported relationships with foreign nationals create vulnerabilities that could expose classified information or compromise U.S. interests. The State Department maintains strict vetting procedures designed to prevent such compromises.
Secretary Rubio has prioritized countering Chinese influence since taking office, tightening vetting procedures for foreign contacts and expanding background checks for personnel in sensitive positions.
This story has been updated. CNN’s National Security desk contributed to this report.
