A Chinese national allegedly lied her way into Mar-A-Lago resort but was arrested by the Secret Service Saturday before she could get near Donald Trump who was there.
The woman, Yujing Zhang, has been charged with making false statements and illegally entering a restricted area.
She was found to be carrying two Republic of China passports, four cell phones, an external hard drive and a thumbdrive containing malware.
Zhang claimed to be meeting with Li “Cindy” Yang, the former massage spa owner accused of selling access to Trump and his family to Chinese business people.
Zhang briefly entered the private resort after telling security guards that she was there to visit the pool, according to the criminal complaint. Due to translation problems, she was allowed on the grounds.
At the reception building, she told another story, saying that she was there to attend a gathering, the “United Nations Chinese American Association.”
The receptionist did not find any such meeting scheduled. That’s when she alerted Secret Service. and Zhang underwent further questioning. She told the agents that a “Chinese friend” had told her to travel to Mar-a-Lago and speak with a member of Trump’s family about U.S.-Chinese economic relations.
According to The Miami Herald , Zhang was trying to gain access to an event advertised on Chinese-language social media by Li “Cindy” Yang, the South Florida massage parlor entrepreneur who also ran a business selling access to President Donald Trump and his family.
The Secret Service issued a statement Tuesday evening, saying Mar-a-Lago — not the Secret Service — determines who is invited or welcome at the resort. They also noted that Zhang, spoke English with ease.
If convicted of lying to federal agents and entering a restricted area, Zhang faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The second charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Zhang’s detention hearing is scheduled for April 8.
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