Chinese businesswoman Yujing Zhang was found guilty on Wednesday of trespassing at Mar-a-Lago and breaching security in hoping to meet President Donald Trump and his family.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Zhang was first told by a man named “Charles” in February that she would be able to attend a meet-and-greet on March 30 with the Trump family if she paid $20,000. Charles told her that the event was canceled and she demanded a refund.
However, Zhang still flew to America and was able to sneak into Mar-a-Lago before a receptionist alerted Secret Service. She was arrested in April for trespassing.
She fired her public defenders and decided to represent herself, varying from speaking in English to using a Mandarian translator. The LA Times said, “At one point she claimed she couldn’t fully understand Mandarin because she hadn’t spoken it much in six months, but Altman found that claim ridiculous.”
Zhang will be sentenced in November and faces up to six years in prison.
CNN reported that there were multiple instances where it was evident Zhang knew that she was doing something wrong and lied to Mar-a-Lago staff. The jury said that it was one of the reasons why they found her guilty.
“We debated every single thing – that’s why it took so long. We thoroughly looked into this case before we voted on it,” juror Nibaldo Padilla told CNN. “She got a fair trial. We didn’t reach this verdict lightly.”
According to CNN, Zhang did not present a case.
“We would have liked to have her story,” said Padilla. “Her story in this case could have influenced the jury, it could have or at the very least explained her side of things … it’s unfortunate.”
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