Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Ben Sasse
U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced legislation banning Presidential appointees from working for the Chinese Communist Party’s national champion firms, like Huawei. Sasse introduced the legislation after the Senate confirmed Christopher Fonzone – a Biden Administration nominee who has done work for Huawei – to be General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in a 55-45 vote.
“The last thing we need is a revolving door between the United States Federal Government and the Chinese Communist Party’s tech puppets. Mr. Fonzone showed extremely poor judgement when he did work for Huawei after he left President Obama’s National Security Council. Mr. Fonzone is not going to be the last nominee who will leave a national security appointment to go work for a CCP national champion and then try to come back to government service. Beijing is deliberately pursuing a strategy of entangling relationships with America’s private sector. That is why I have introduced legislation to ban Presidential appointees from working for CCP tied organizations, like Huawei. We need to make sure we bolt this revolving door shut before more public servants make a quick buck working with the Chinese Communist Party.”
Background:
The legislation would bar Presidential appointees from being employed by, representing, aiding, or advising the following entities upon termination of their appointment:
- Government of the People’s Republic of China
- Chinese Communist Party
- Any entity identified under section 1237(b) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105–261; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note)
- Any entity identified under section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116– 283)
- Any China-based entity included on the Department of Commerce’s Entity List