![\\"Newsweek](\\" tablet.svg\\") * U.S. * World * Science * Health * Life * Rankings * Opinion * Entertainment * Fact Check * My Turn * Education * EventsSportsPodcastsBetter PlanetVaultMightierAutosNewslettersUnconventionalVantageExpertsVoices * Subscribe for $1 * Login × Subscribe for $1 Login * U.S. * World * Science * Health * Life * Rankings * Opinion * Entertainment * Fact Check * My Turn * Education * Events * Sports * Podcasts * Better Planet * Vault * Mightier * Autos * Newsletters * Unconventional * Vantage * Experts * Voices YOUR THOUGHTS Who Won the VP Debate, Vance or Walz? Newsweek Readers\' Verdicts Share Copy Link ✓ Link copied to clipboard! Fact Check * Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez * China * U.S. China relations * Spy * Montana # Fact Check: Did AOC \'Funnel\' Cash to Chinese Agent Before Balloon Appeared? **Published** Feb 03, 2023 at 2:25 PM EST By Tom Norton FOLLOW 28 __ Share ______________ Copy Link ✓ Link copied to clipboard! The surprising arrival of a suspected Chinese spy balloon over Montana has led to arguments in Washington over whether the device should be seen as a threat to U.S. security. Addressing a press conference, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said the balloon is \"well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.\" China has said it was really a civilian research \"airship\" that\'s mainly used for gathering weather data. Nonetheless, the incident has led to heightened scrutiny of the U.S.\' relationship with China and whether some people at the top share too close a bond with the eastern superpower. ![\\"](\\" capitol.jpg?w=1200&f=98334e31401974d793efd9ee0b897ad8\\") Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during a news conference with Democratic lawmakers about the Biden administration\'s border politics, outside the U.S. Capitol on January 26, 2023, in Washington, DC. She has been accused of \"funneling\"... Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks during a news conference with Democratic lawmakers about the Biden administration\'s border politics, outside the U.S. Capitol on January 26, 2023, in Washington, DC. She has been accused of \"funneling\" cash to a Chinese foreign agent. More Getty The Claim A tweet by conservative commentator Jack Posobiec, posted February 3, 2023, made the claim that New York Congresswoman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) had \"FUNNELED CASH\" to a \"CHINESE FOREIGN AGENT BEFORE SPY BALLOON APPEARED.\" Beneath the tweet, which has been viewed more than 155,000 times, was a link to his podcast and an image that repeats the same claim as above. The Facts The spy balloon story has fueled criticism of the Democrats over the decision not to shoot down the device as it flew over Montana. It\'s here, it seems, that Ocasio-Cortez has found herself the target of criticism for her election campaign\'s association with a Chinese firm that the Department of Justice has classified as a foreign agent. However, even if the timeline behind Posobiec\'s accusation has technical accuracy, the presentation of the claim (particularly with interest surrounding the spy balloon\'s appearance) could be misinterpreted. It is true that during the 2021-2022 electoral cycle, the Ocasio-Cortez campaign spent $1,456 for advertising with Sing Tao Newspapers Ltd: once in April 2021 and again in November 2021, as Federal Election Commission records show. Read more * Fact Check: Are Republicans making Jamie Raskin remove cap during chemo? * Fact Check: Did Biden say sending tanks to Ukraine would cause World War 3? * Fact Check: Trump claims wind turbines kill \"thousands\" of bald eagles * Fact Check: Was Memphis cop Preston Hemphill fired over Tyre Nichols death? In August 2021, Sing Tao Newspapers New York Ltd was registered by the U.S. Department of Justice as a foreign agent, as reported by Axios. It is not clear from reports whether the campaign team was aware of the Chinese newspaper\'s status as a foreign agent or what media buying contract the ad may have been a part of (if any). So, it is true that the New York Congresswoman, in effect, did send money to an organization that has been deemed by the U.S. to be an agent of the Chinese government. However, there is no evidence of how Ocasio-Cortez, Sing Tao, and the balloon are linked, beyond the slightly tenuous connection with the Chinese government. Ocasio-Cortez was not the only politician to have bought ad space either. As Federal Election Commission reports show, other Representatives, such as Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), spent more than $7,000 on print ads with Sing Tao Newspapers New York Ltd in 2022. Although it is a matter of semantics, claiming the money was \"funneled\" also seems to imply an underhandedness that does not appear to be at play here. In Posobiec\'s defense, he explains the story in more detail on his podcast (linked in his tweet) far more than in the tweet. It is also worth mentioning that the less than $1,500 Cortez spent on these ads represents a fraction of a percent of the more than $11 million her campaign spent during the last election cycle. However, while there is a degree of plausible deniability behind what Posobiec\'s claim may mean, there is no evidence of any meaningful relationship here between Ocasio-Cortez, Sing Tao and the Chinese government. Newsweek has contacted Posobiec, Malliotakis, and Ocasio-Cortez for comment. The Ruling ![\\"Needs](\\" context.png?w=380&f=ebfdc5f492c3ecd5603accb47a1ef86b\\") Needs Context. Posobiec isn\'t technically incorrect but there\'s scope for misinterpretation. While Ocasio-Cortez paid for ad space in a Chinese newspaper, whose American subsidiary was listed as a foreign agent by the U.S. government, there is no evidence that either is linked to the appearance of a spy balloon over Montana, as Posobiec\'s tweet may imply. Ocasio-Cortez was also not the only representative to have spent money on Sing Tao, and it was a fraction of her total ad spend in 2021-2022. FACT CHECK BY Newsweek\'s Fact Check team For more information about this ranking please click on this LINK Request Reprint & Licensing Submit Correction View Editorial Guidelines ### About the writer Tom Norton FOLLOW To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here. Trending 1. ![\\"\\"](\\" 01 ### Five Key Takeaways From the Vice Presidential Debate 138 comments 2. 02 ### Everything Donald Trump Said During JD Vance\'s Debate Against Tim Walz 159 comments 3. 03 ### Tim Walz Unprepared for JD Vance, CNN Anchors Say: \'Lack of Interviews\' 46 comments 4. 04 ### California-Las Vegas High-Speed Rail Gets $3B Boost 0 comments 5. 05 ### Port Strikes Will Benefit My Industry, CEO Says 1 comments 6. ← Back To Homepage ## Latest updates * ### Bill Maher Addresses Questions About How He Got \'So Rich\' * ### Women Reveal Extreme \'Morning Shed\' Beauty Routines in New Viral Trend * ### Map Shows Safest Countries for Women Travelers * ### Will Donald Trump Debate Kamala Harris Again? It\'s Not Looking Likely * ### Sister Sledge Legend Wasn\'t Allowed To Hear Own Songs Before Recording ## The Debate ### Sorry Donald Trump, Here\'s Why the Election May Already Be Over | Opinion By Matt Robison ![\\"\\"](\\" bw.png?w=80&h=80&f=12871ed5823c4000a9ab7c63139c09f3\\") VS ![\\"\\"](\\" rogers.png?w=80&h=80&f=c778760c77c60edcb1bb28ebb9639587\\") ### Jill Stein Blew It for Clinton. Will She Do It to Harris, Too? | Opinion By Tom Rogers Opinion * GOP Rep: Kamala Refused To Face Her Failure at the Border | Opinion By Andy Biggs ![\\"\\"](\\" bw.png?w=63&h=63&f=2ccd5b5cee30ed87f108d84d04429572\\") * What\'s at Stake in the Debate Between Tim Walz and JD Vance? | Opinion By Aaron Mannes ![\\"\\"](\\" mannes.png?w=63&h=63&f=e54db8c015953bffd9c6a0ec56542d02\\") * Why Is Trump Trying To Compete With Martin Luther King? | Opinion By Mark Allan Williams ![\\"\\"](\\" williams.png?w=63&h=63&f=80b964af6e1f766e02efad58670e32f5\\") * America—You\'re Letting Your Jews Down | Opinion By Matthew Gewirtz & Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback ![\\"\\"](\\" * Canada\'s Jihadi Crisis Should Worry America | Opinion By Casey Babb ![\\"\\"](\\" babb.png?w=63&h=63&f=0d37382db3bf8414b03f51ee74d9f009\\") * Donald Trump: My Plan to Bring Back the American Dream | Opinion By Donald J. Trump ![\\"\\"](\\" bw.png?w=63&h=63&f=6b134d2cfb4af45b27240f7df12ab35f\\") * Sorry Donald Trump, Here\'s Why the Election May Already Be Over | Opinion By Matt Robison ![\\"\\"](\\" bw.png?w=63&h=63&f=37be1db4becfcce3cf052e6b31ffdb44\\") * Put Personalities Aside—America Wants Trump\'s Economic Platform | Opinion By John Tillman ![\\"\\"](\\" tillman.png?w=63&h=63&f=ce7042ee7dd52584a6f5efc205845d0f\\") * Harris Has an Economic Plan That Will Work for the Middle Class | Opinion By David Faris ![\\"\\"](\\" * Killing Hezbollah\'s Nasrallah Is a Key Step. More Is Needed | Opinion By Dan Perry ![\\"\\"](\\" * Abolish the Death Penalty. It\'s Unjust and Outdated | Opinion By Andrew V. Kennedy ![\\"\\"](\\" kennedy.png?w=63&h=63&f=1663813bcd45d1a92dd6bb6b4fb5f902\\") * Nasrallah\'s Assassination Is a Devastating Blow to Hezbollah | Opinion By Bilal Y. Saab ![\\"\\"](\\" saab.png?w=63&h=63&f=42b1d36189bbe80331f5281dd8a461f5\\") Premium Subscription Digital + Monthly ![\\"Newsweek](\\" newsweek-premium.png\\"/) * Newsweek magazine delivered to your door * Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions * Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com * Comment on articles * Newsweek app updates on-the-go Subscribe now ![\\"Newsweek](\\" digital.png\\"/) * Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions * Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com * Comment on articles * Newsweek app updates on-the-go Subscribe now ## Top stories ![\\"\\"](\\" ### October 7 Hamas Attacks: How Life Changed at Israel\'s Borders, One Year On ![\\"\\"](\\" ### Donald Trump\'s Chances of Winning Boosted After Tim Walz, JD Vance Debate ![\\"\\"](\\" nevada.jpg\\"/) ### Kamala Harris is Achieving Success in Donald Trump\'s Strongest Area ![\\"\\"](\\" debate.jpg\\"/) ### Tim Walz \'Like a Deer in the Headlights\'—Analysts on Who Won VP Debate ![\\"newsweek](\\" ![](\\" icon-white.svg\\")![](\\" U.S.WorldScienceHealthRankingsOpinionEntertainmentFact CheckMy TurnEducationEventsSportsPodcastsBetter PlanetVaultMightierAutosNewslettersUnconventionalVantageExpertsVoices Trending Israel at War Vladimir Putin Russia-Ukraine War Donald Trump Subscriptions Digital+ Monthly (Ad Free Trial) $1.00 Digital+ Yearly $49.00 Premium Monthly $9.99 Premium Yearly $99 Newsletters in your inbox See all The Bulletin (Daily)See Sample The Gist of It (Daily) Geoscape (Twice a Week) The 1600 (Daily) The Josh Hammer Report (Weekly)See Sample For The Culture (Three Times a Week)See Sample Discoveries (3 Times a Week) Like & Subscribe (Daily) Breaking News (As it Breaks) The Debate (Twice a Week) Pawsitively (Daily) Better Planet (Weekly) My Turn (Weekly) Newsweek Pulse (2x3 Times a Month) Sign up now You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy In The Magazine ![\\"Newsweek](\\" october-4-2024.jpg?w=400&f=4b23abfc476c1c1d8631412846ba7333\\") October 04 2024 Issue Company About UsMastheadDiversityAnnouncementsArchivePolicies and StandardsMission StatementLeadershipNewslettersPress Center Editions: U.S. Edition日本PolskaRomânia Contact AdvertiseCareersContact UsCorrections Terms of Use Cookie PolicyCopyrightPrivacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsTerms of Sale Privacy Settings © 2024 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC
Did AOC funnel cash to Chinese agent before balloon appeared