DOJ Report Reveals Some Private Investigators Engaging in Transnational Repression
According to news sources, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently indicted several people for working for the Chinese government to spy, harass, threaten and stalk Chinese dissidents legally living in the United States. There’s a name for this abuse. It’s called, “Transnational Repression.”
There are several intriguing things about this case, such as, one victim was at Tiananmen Square in 1989, escaped to the U.S., became a citizen, served in the U.S. military and is currently running for the U.S Congress.
But apparently, the “go-to” tactic of the Chinese government (MSS division) is to retain U.S. private investigators (PIs) to do their dirty work in the United States. In this case, the PI was contacted to take part in this “transnational repression” campaign by providing background information—and to stalk and intimidate the victims.
The MSS initially reached out to the PI for the following information on one particular Chinese victim legally living in the United States:
Home address and phone number
Family members
Company information
What is the business?
How many members and partners?
Identity of members and partners
Names of victim’s assistant and housekeeper
The Investigator agreed to provide the open-source information requested at a cost of $1500 per report to the DOJ. After the PI provided that open-source information to the Chinese, the Chinese agent then requested IRS tax returns for the victim running for Congress and asked if the PI had any contacts with the CIA or FBI. It was at that point that the PI notified the FBI to report being approached.
The MSS then urged the private investigator to either uncover derogatory information about the victim or create it if none existed, including beating the victim. One of the accused named in the complaint that the MSS also retained was a former Florida correctional officer.
In another case, a private investigator was retained by the Chinese State to assist in coercing a target to return to China. Similarly, the bottom line here is that the Chinese agents who retained the PI and the PI himself were acting as foreign agents in the U.S. without being registered with the U.S. Attorney General.
In the recent complaint announcement, the DOJ specifically called on private investigators to notify the FBI when contacted.
Alan Kohler, FBI Assistant Director, Counterintelligence Division, stated the following: “…I will also note the use of private investigators in many of these cases, I would urge all private investigators that have been asked to gather information on dissidents or have been approached by foreign governments to immediately report such requests to the FBI.
Investigations can be used for many purposes, but it’s clear that American private investigators need to be very careful when approached by Chinese representatives
When done by reputable firms and individuals, investigations can lead to big victories in the courtroom or more favorable settlements. That’s why the smartest attorneys and law firms across the country (like you) work with the worldwide team of Santoni Investigations who will make sure you know everything to maximize the settlement process or win your case in court!