By Jan Wolfe

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. federal prosecutors have accused Chinese government agents trying to intimidate and spy on dissidents in America. This includes a candidate for Congress.

Justice Department officials stated that the cases were “transnational” repression by an authoritarian state. They also discussed assaulting one dissident.

“These cases expose the attempts of the People’s Republic of China government to suppress dissenting voices in the United States, and show how the PRC attempts stalk, intimidate, and silence those who are opposed to them,” Matthew Olsen Assistant Attorney General said at a press conference.

One of these cases involved federal prosecutors claiming that a Chinese government agent approached U.S. investigators to set up a political scandal which would weaken a Chinese-born candidate for the Democratic nomination.

According to the prosecutors, at one time, the Chinese agent suggested that the private investigator attack the candidate in order to stop him from running.

The Chinese agent said, “You can begin thinking now. “But violence will be okay too.” Huh? He is a fool. Beat him.

Court documents did not identify the candidate, however, the profile of Xiong Yan is that of Xiong Yan. Yan is running for the Democratic nomination to represent the eastern half of New York’s Long Island. Republican Lee Zeldin is the incumbent. Zeldin chose to run as governor, rather than reelection.

Yan didn’t respond to my request for comment.

Another case was where prosecutors claimed Frank Liu (a Long Island resident) approached a private investigation about conducting due diligence on dissidents born in China who were living in the United States. Liu was accused of conspiring in order to be an agent for a foreign country.

Edgar Frankbonner was Liu’s lawyer at Wednesday’s Brooklyn federal court initial appearance. He stated that Liu is an American citizen and has been living in America for 38 years. Frankbonner said that there is no evidence Liu has had contact recently with China.

When asked by Judge James Cho, U.S. Magistrate, if he understood what was being charged, Liu replied through an interpreter, “I understand, but I disagree with all of the allegations.”

Cho issued a bond of $1 million for Liu with the conditions that Liu not visit China’s New York consulate.

In another case, Chinese government agents are accused of planting surveillance equipment in a California-based artist’s workplace and car to spy on him. Artist, who is a Chinese national and resides in Los Angeles, was also accused of being destroyed by agents.

Washington’s Chinese Embassy did not respond when we asked for their opinion.

“These charges show that both election interference and malign foreign influence remain top priorities for the DOJ,” said Brandon Van Grack, a former Justice Department lawyer now at Morrison & Foerster who is not involved in the cases.

Russia claims that the United States sanctions Russia last year for trying to interfere with 2020’s presidential election. Russia disputes this accusation.

Last month, the Justice Department ended its program to fight Chinese intellectual property theft at universities and Chinese spying. It now shifts to deal with threats from more hostile nations.

Critics claimed that the initiative was racial profiling. It also created fear and a climate that discouraged scientific research.