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California mayor accused of secretly working for China, spreading propaganda while in office: feds

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A California mayor who has since resigned has been charged with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China and has agreed to plead guilty, according to federal prosecutors who say she secretly worked to push pro-Beijing messaging inside the United States before she took office.

Eileen Wang, former mayor of Arcadia, California, has been charged with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China and has agreed to plead guilty to the felony offense, the Justice Department announced. She now faces up to 10 years in federal prison along with a potential $250,000 fine, though any sentence would be determined by a federal judge..

Federal prosecutors say Wang admitted she acted “at the direction and control” of Chinese government officials from at least 2020 through 2022, coordinating with individuals in the U.S. to spread pro-Beijing messaging, all without notifying the U.S. Attorney General as required by law. The conduct described by prosecutors occurred before Wang took office on the Arcadia City Council in December 2022.

Arcadia city officials said the case is tied to Wang’s individual conduct and does not impact city operations.

“Individuals elected to public office in the United States should act only for the people of the United States that they represent,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said.

CHINA SKIRTS US EFFORTS TO STIFF-ARM CCP INTERFERENCE BY BOLSTERING STATE, LOCAL RELATIONS

“It is deeply concerning that someone who previously received and executed directives from PRC government officials is now in a position of public trust at all.”

According to court documents, Wang worked alongside Yaoning “Mike” Sun, a convicted Chinese agent already serving a four-year federal prison sentence, to operate a website posing as a local Chinese American news outlet.

Prosecutors  described the website as a propaganda arm for the Chinese Communist Party, saying it published content supplied directly by Chinese officials. Bottom of Form

ALLEGED CHINESE SCHEME TO INFLUENCE 2020 ELECTION FOR BIDEN BEING PROBED BY FBI, SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

In one exchange, a Chinese government official sent Wang a pre-written article denying allegations of forced labor and genocide in Xinjiang.

Minutes later, Wang posted it online and sent back the link. The official replied, “So fast, thank you everyone.”

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In another instance, after making edits at Beijing’s request and touting more than 15,000 views, Wang responded, “Thank you leader.”

CHINA TARGETS US MILITARY MEMBERS IN OVERSEAS SPY OPERATIONS, FORMER CIA STATION CHIEF WARNS

Prosecutors also say Wang communicated with convicted PRC operative John Chen, a figure tied to China’s intelligence apparatus with connections to Chinese President Xi Jinping, asking him to distribute messaging and writing, “This is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to send.”

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“Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. “This plea agreement is the latest success in our determination to defend the homeland against China’s efforts to corrupt our institutions.”

The FBI framed the case as a warning about foreign interference in American politics.

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“By her own admission, Eileen Wang secretly served the interests of the Chinese government,” said FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky. “Let this serve as a clear warning individuals who act on behalf of foreign governments to influence our democracy will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice.”

Despite the covert relationship, Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022 and later became mayor through the council’s rotating system. The conduct outlined by prosecutors occurred before she assumed office.

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In her plea agreement, Wang admitted she never disclosed her work for the Chinese government either to federal authorities or to readers of her website and acknowledged she was acting inside the United States while doing so. She is expected to formally enter the guilty plea in federal court and has not yet been sentenced.

The agreement also makes clear that if Wang is not a U.S. citizen, her felony conviction could trigger deportation or denial of future citizenship. The plea agreement describes those as potential immigration consequences.

Wang has agreed to resign from public office and is expected to formally enter her guilty plea in the coming weeks as the FBI investigation continues.

Arcadia city officials said the case is tied to Wang’s individual conduct and does not impact city operations.

In a message to residents, City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto confirmed Wang has resigned from the City Council, vacating her role as mayor, following the federal charges.

“The allegations at the center of this case, that a foreign government sought to exert influence over a local elected official, are deeply troubling,” the city said in a statement. “We take them seriously.”

City officials said the conduct outlined in the case occurred before Wang took office in December 2022 and emphasized that no city resources or decision-making processes were affected.

“Following an internal review, we can confirm that no City finances, staff, or decision-making processes were involved,” the statement said.

Officials added that no other members of the City Council are under investigation and that city business is continuing as normal.

Fox News’ Matt Finn contributed to this report.

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Savannah Guthrie to host ‘Wordle’ game show for NBC as mother’s disappearance reaches 100 days

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NBC revealed Monday that “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie will be hosting a primetime “Wordle” game show, with the announcement coinciding with the 100-day mark of her mother’s disappearance.

“Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon, who is set to produce the game show, appeared on “Today” alongside Guthrie to promote the new program.

“We’ve been developing ‘Wordle’ as a game show for the past two and a half years with The New York Times, and it’s official, we are making ‘Wordle’ game show with our host, Savannah Guthrie!” Fallon told viewers.

“We’ve been holding this secret between us for, like, a long time now,” Guthrie said.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE ASKS FOR PRAYER AS HER MOTHER REMAINS MISSING: ‘WE NEED YOU’

“Wordle” is the widely-popular puzzle game that first went viral in 2021 and was later bought by The New York Times.

Guthrie revealed that “Wordle” had been picked up by NBC in February and that it was supposed to be shot in March, but the network’s plans were upended by the tragic disappearance of her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, from her Tuscon, Arizona, home. She thanked the network, Fallon, The Times and Universal for pausing production.

AUTHORITIES TO RELEASE IMAGE OF POTENTIAL SUBJECT IN NANCY GUTHRIE CASE

“When everything happened with me and my family, they just stopped everything and said, ‘We’ll wait for you,’” Savannah said. “And Hollywood is like a really tough business, as you know, and I didn’t expect that. And I just want to say, thank you. It means so much to me.”

“We can’t do it without you,” Fallon responded. “We need you, bud. You’re so good, and it’s so fun. I can’t wait for everyone to see it. It’s fantastic.”

Filming is expected to take place in the summer. An air date has yet to be announced.

Guthrie returned to “Today” in early April after a two-month absence as the search for her mother drew national attention.

Nancy Guthrie is believed to have been taken from her home against her will in the early hours Feb. 1 and was last seen when her son-in-law dropped her off at home around 10 p.m. the night before. Footage captured from a device in front of the home showed a masked man was seen on her doorstep and appeared to be armed with a handgun.

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A series of unverified ransom notes were sent to media outlets, including TMZ and a local Tucson station, leading many to believe the disappearance is somehow financially motivated. No suspects have been publicly identified.

Investigators and the family have repeatedly appealed to the public for help. There is a combined reward of more than $1.2 million in connection with the case — a million of it from the Guthrie family for their mother’s recovery. The family has asked anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz and Brian Flood contributed to this report.

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Suspected roadway gunman with reported criminal history sparks outrage after drivers shot

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Outrage erupted online following a chaotic police-involved shooting in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Monday, with critics pointing to the suspected gunman’s criminal history after authorities said he opened fire along a busy roadway.

Video shared by FOX 25 Boston appears to show the suspect, identified by Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan as Tyler Brown, walking down the street while firing as cars pass nearby, prompting a heavy law enforcement response.

The station reported the video shows the suspect being shot, though the portion of the footage it shared does not include that moment.

Massachusetts State Police said troopers responded around 1:20 p.m. to a shooting involving law enforcement in the area of Memorial Drive and River Street.

FBI, POLICE INVESTIGATING AFTER SUSPECTED ARMED PERSON SEEN IN VIDEO NEAR UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL

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“EMS has responded to the scene to treat at least one individual for a gunshot wound,” the agency said, adding that no additional details about the circumstances were immediately available.

Cambridge Police Department (CPD) said officers were called shortly after 1:30 p.m. for reports of gunshots in the same area, noting there is no ongoing danger to the public.

MASSACHUSETTS POLICE OFFICER SHOT BY COLLEAGUE DURING SERVICE OF RESTRAINING ORDER

“CPD and State Police are on-scene, however there is no on-going danger to the public,” the department said in a statement, asking residents to avoid the area.

Ryan said the incident began after Boston police alerted authorities about a man acting erratically who was believed to be armed with a rifle.

By the time officers arrived, the situation had escalated into what officials described as an active shooter incident, with the suspect walking down the middle of Memorial Drive and firing in an erratic manner as traffic came to a halt.

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“In the course of doing that, two males in vehicles separately were struck by gunfire,” Ryan said.

Authorities said a Massachusetts State Police trooper and an armed civilian — described as a former Marine licensed to carry — confronted the suspect as people fled their vehicles and sought cover.

Both the trooper and the civilian fired their weapons, striking Brown multiple times in the extremities, Ryan said. Brown was treated at the scene and transported to a Boston hospital, where he remains in custody.

The two victims who were shot while inside their vehicles were also taken to Boston hospitals with life-threatening injuries, officials said.

FBI REVEALS BROWN UNIVERSITY MASS SHOOTER BEGAN PLOTTING MASSACRE AS EARLY AS 2022, BLAMED VICTIMS

Ryan said a “very high number of rounds — in the neighborhood of 50 to 60 — were fired in a very short period of time” during the incident.

Brown is expected to face multiple charges, including two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, along with weapons offenses.

Boston 25 News reported that Brown has a criminal history spanning nearly two decades, citing court records tied to a man with the same name and date of birth that include prior firearm and drug convictions. The outlet reported that in 2020, Brown fired multiple rounds at Boston police officers while already on probation in a separate case.

The report said prosecutors at the time sought a significantly longer sentence, but a judge imposed a shorter term that drew criticism from the district attorney’s office.

Reaction to Brown’s reported criminal history quickly spread online, with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy writing on social media that “the judge who let this guy off easy should go to prison.”

Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue weighed in on the shooting, vowing to push to ensure that repeat offenders like Brown are not given lenient sentences or parole.

“The fundamental role of the governor is to uphold the law and keep our communities safe. When our criminal justice system throws common sense out the window and allows dangerous, violent people to get out of prison quickly or early, it means innocent moms, dads, and kids may be killed,” Minogue said in a statement. “I am grateful to the officers who stopped today’s attack and saved lives.”

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey reiterated in a post on X that there is no ongoing threat to the public following the shooting.

“I’m closely monitoring the situation on Memorial Drive. @MassStatePolice are on the scene and working alongside local law enforcement to investigate. There is no ongoing threat to the public,” she wrote. “However, residents and commuters are strongly encouraged to avoid the area to allow public safety personnel to do their work. Grateful to first responders who worked quickly to keep people safe and secure the scene.”

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Trump administration rejects UN migration declaration, says ‘mass migration was never safe’

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The U.S. ​State Department ‌announced on Monday that it refused to back an ​International Migration Review Forum “progress” declaration, ​accusing the U.N. of efforts to “advocate and facilitate replacement immigration in the United States and across the broader West.”

The U.S. did not participate in the second International Migration Review Forum, held May 5–8 at U.N. Headquarters in New York, and will not support the declaration, the department said in a statement on Monday.

The forum is the U.N.’s main global platform for member states to review implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, according to the U.N. Network on Migration. The 2026 forum was scheduled to produce an intergovernmentally agreed “Progress Declaration.”

President Donald Trump ended U.S. participation in the U.N. process to develop the Global Compact for Migration during his first term in 2017, and now the State Department says the federal government will again affirm its opposition.

TRUMP PULLS US OUT OF UN-LINKED MIGRATION FORUM IN BOLD IMMIGRATION MOVE

The Global Compact was adopted in 2018 after the U.S. withdrew from the process. The U.N. and International Organization for Migration describe the compact as a cooperative framework intended to improve migration governance across countries.

“As Secretary Rubio said, opening our doors to mass migration was a grave mistake that threatens the cohesion of our societies and the future of our peoples,” the department’s statement reads. “ In recent years, Americans witnessed first-hand how mass immigration laid waste to our communities: crime and chaos at the border, states of emergency in major cities, and billions of taxpayer dollars funneled towards hotels, plane tickets, cell phones and cash cards for migrants.”

“Much of this was driven by UN agencies and their partners, which did not just facilitate the invasion of our country, but proceeded to redistribute our own people’s wealth and resources to millions of foreigners from the worst corners of the world,” it continued.

The department argued there was nothing safe, orderly or regular about any of this, adding that the costs “were borne primarily by working Americans forced to compete for scarce jobs, housing, and social services.”

“The UN has little to say about them,” the department wrote.

TRUMP UNVEILS ‘REVERSE MIGRATION’ PLAN TO HALT ‘THIRD WORLD’ IMMIGRATION, REVOKE BIDEN-ERA ENTRIES

“President Trump is focused on the interests of Americans, not foreigners or globalist bureaucrats,” the statement reads. ”The United States will not support a process that imposes, overtly or by stealth, guidelines, standards, or commitments that constrain the American people’s sovereign, democratic right to make decisions in the best interests of our country.”

The department concluded its statement by saying its goal is not to “manage” migration, but to “foster remigration.”

In a thread on X also announcing the move to object to the declaration, the department said UN agencies “systematically facilitated mass migration into America and Europe, even as citizens of these nations called for restrictions on migration.” It added that U.N. materials related to the Global Compact call for expanding regular migration pathways and reference “regularization” of migrants.

The International Organization for Migration says the forum is held every four years for countries to review progress and shape next steps on migration policy. IOM, which coordinates the U.N. Network on Migration, says the network includes 39 U.N. agencies working to support countries on migration issues.

The department alleged that “UN agencies – working with the NGOs they fund – established a migration corridor through Central America and to the U.S. border,” the post reads. “As the American people suffered under an unprecedented wave of mass migration, the UN was on the ground pipelining migrants to our southern border.”

“After facilitating mass migration to the United States, UN agencies condemned the deportation of illegal immigrants,” the post continued. “While the United Kingdom faced unprecedented illegal boat crossings, UN agencies condemned plans for deportations. UN officials lobbied aviation regulators to prevent the deportation of migrants – an appalling violation of the UK’s national sovereignty.”

The U.N. Network on Migration describes the compact as “non-legally binding.” A U.N.-hosted text of the compact also says it respects states’ sovereign right to determine their national migration policies and to distinguish between regular and irregular migration status.

The declaration itself says the Global Compact is a cooperative framework and acknowledges that no state can address migration alone, while also upholding the sovereignty of states.

The department pushed back on the compact’s framing of migration as “safe, orderly and regular.”

“For the citizens of Western nations, mass migration was never safe. It introduced new security threats, imposed financial strains, and undermined the cohesion of our societies,” it wrote.

“The United States will not legitimize global compacts that enable mass migration into America or Western nations,” the post added.

U.N. materials frame the compact as a cooperative framework for issues that often cross borders, including labor migration, border management, migrant protections and development. U.N. agencies, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, describe the IMRF as a state-led review process with participation from relevant stakeholders.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.N. for comment.

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