Chinese businesswoman found guilty of lying to the Secret Service to enter Mar-a-Lago


A Chinese businesswoman has just been found guilty of lying to the Secret Service in order to trespass at Mar-a-Lago, The Associated Press reports.
Yujing Zhang was arrested in March as prosecutors said she talked her way into President Trump's Florida club by falsely telling the Secret Service she was there to use the pool and then telling a receptionist she was there for a United Nations Friendship Event, even though prosecutors say she was aware this event was canceled. Trump was not at Mar-a-Lago at the time. Zhang was carrying numerous electronics, including four cellphones and a laptop, and a device that can detect hidden cameras was found in her hotel room, per AP.
Wednesday's conviction came at the conclusion of a trial during which Zhang, who faces up to six years in prison for the two charges, represented herself and delivered a mere 20-second opening statement; jury selection was also delayed after Zhang said she wasn't given underwear. Although Zhang was found guilty, the trial "shed little light" on whether she "was a spy penetrating a place where the president regularly holds meetings or a tourist on the worst trip of her life," The New York Times writes.
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.
Zhang will be sentenced in November.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
How global conflicts are reshaping flight paths
Under the Radar Airlines are having to take longer and convoluted routes to avoid conflict zones
-
Zohran Mamdani: the young progressive likely to be New York City's next mayor
In The Spotlight The policies and experience that led to his meteoric rise
-
The best film reboots of all time
The Week Recommends Creativity and imagination are often required to breathe fresh life into old material
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores