Trump campaign aide who viewed classified docs linked to Chinese lobbying firm: report
A top Donald Trump 2024 campaign advisor who prosecutors allege viewed classified documents is employed by a firm with links to China that poses a potential national security threat and enables human rights abuses, The New York Post reports.
Susan Wiles serves as co-chair of Mercury Public Affairs, which has taken millions of dollars from several high-profile Chinese companies including Yealink, Hikvision, and Alibaba.
Wiles also served on the staff of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 2018 gubernatorial run.
Special counsel Jack Smith’ 37-count indictment against Trump over allegations the former president mishandled classified documents identifies Wiles as “PAC Representative” whom Trump showed classified documents to, ABC News reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Josh Christenson writes for The Post, “If confirmed, the episode is further complicated by both Wiles’ high standing in the Trump campaign and her closeness to potential hostile entities through her firm’s lobbying work.”
Mercury, the lobbying firm that employs Wiles, was paid $240,000 in 2022 by a telecommunications company that had been flagged for security issues, the report said.
The report notes that Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in Sept. 2021 wrote a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to alert the agency that a security analytics company determined that Yealink’s phones had software installed that secretly records calls and tracks web browsing.
The data can be transferred to administrators in China who are required by the government to comply with any requests to turn over any information related to national security, the report said.
Wiles figures to be a potentially damaging witness should she turn against the former president, a GOP operative from a rival campaign told The Post.
“Susie could put Trump away for years in just one minute of testimony to Jack Smith,” the operative told The Post.
“She’s got Trump by the balls, which means she can name her price for her loyalty and Trump can’t say no.”