Secret Service arrest woman who seemingly snuck into Mar-a-Lago with malware-packed thumb drive
A woman carrying Chinese passports and a thumb drive filled with "malicious software" was arrested by the Secret Service over the weekend, court documents filed Monday reveal.
Yujing Zhang apparently talked her way into President Trump's Palm Beach, Florida resort to "speak with" someone from the Trump family, prosecutors allege in federal court filings charging her with making false statements. Trump was visiting Mar-a-Lago that weekend and was playing golf while the alleged incident occurred, per CNBC.
Per court filings, Zhang made it through a Secret Service checkpoint using two Chinese passports featuring her name and photograph. Secret Service agents didn't see her name on an approved access list, but Zhang reportedly said she was headed to the pool. Despite not having a swimsuit, Zhang made it through because a staffer told agents "Zhang is the last name of a member at the Mar-a-Lago club," The Washington Post details via the filings.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Inside the club, prosecutors say Zhang told a receptionist she was there for a "United Nations Friendship Event" between China and the U.S. That event wasn't happening, so she was taken aside and questioned. That's when Secret Service agents say they found Zhang had a thumb drive full of "malicious software." In questioning, Zhang allegedly said her "Chinese friend 'Charles'" told her to travel from Shanghai to "attempt to speak with a member of the president's family about Chinese and American foreign economic relations," per the filings. Zhang has been charged with making false statements to a federal officer and entering a restricted building.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Brazil's war on illicit hot air balloons
Under the Radar Secret 'baloeiros' fly flamboyantly colourful creations over Rio's favelas, despite nationwide ban
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - December 22, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - the long and short of it, trigger finger, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilariously spirited cartoons about the spirit of Christmas
Cartoons Artists take on excuses, pardons, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Teenage girl kills 2 in Wisconsin school shooting
Speed Read 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow fatally shot a teacher and student at Abundant Life Christian School
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Penny acquitted in NYC subway choking death
Speed Read Daniel Penny was found not guilty of homicide in the 2023 choking death of Jordan Neely
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Suspect in CEO shooting caught, charged with murder
Speed Read Police believe 26-year-old Luigi Mangione killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
UnitedHealthcare CEO killed in 'brazen, targeted' hit
Speed Read Police are conducting a massive search for Brian Thompson's shooter
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
DOJ demands changes at 'abhorrent' Atlanta jail
Speed Read Georgia's Fulton County Jail subjects inmates to 'unconstitutional' conditions, the 16-month investigation found
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
China tries to bury deadly car attack
Speed Read An SUV drove into a crowd of people in Zhuhai, killing and injuring dozens — but news of the attack has been censored
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Menendez brothers may go free in LA prosecutor plan
Speed Read Prosecutors are asking for the brothers to be resentenced for the 1989 murder of their parents
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Abercrombie ex-CEO charged with sex crimes
Speed Read Mike Jeffries ran the brand during its heyday from 1992 to 2014
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published