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James O’Keefe’s undercover reporting once again forced Washington to pay attention, this time exposing a State Department foreign service officer who admitted to hiding a romantic relationship with a Chinese national tied to the Chinese Communist Party. The revelation prompted the State Department to dismiss the officer after an internal review found he had “admitted concealing a romantic relationship” that posed national security risks, a stunning confirmation that undercover journalism can still protect the country.
The secretly recorded footage published by O’Keefe’s team shows the officer confessing that the woman he dated “could have been a spy” and that he “defied my government for love,” comments that should chill every patriot who cares about the safety of our secrets. O’Keefe’s reporting and several conservative outlets say the video appears to identify the officer as Daniel Choi, although the State Department did not publicly name the individual when announcing the firing.
This dismissal is not just a personnel matter—it’s the result of a policy put in place because Beijing weaponizes relationships and influence operations against America, a danger the State Department recognized when it banned romantic or sexual relationships between U.S. government personnel in China and Chinese nationals. Americans who love their country should applaud enforcement of those rules, because casual romance can become a national-security liability if employees fail to report suspicious ties.
Let’s be blunt: an agency that can’t or won’t enforce basic reporting rules is a national-security disaster waiting to happen. If left unchecked, these kinds of lapses hand China easy openings to gather intelligence, manipulate personnel, or influence policy through honey-trap tactics — a reality the Left has been slow to confront while too many in government dismissed such concerns as paranoia. Hardworking Americans deserve a State Department that treats Beijing like an adversary, not a social partner, and that starts with personnel who follow the rules and leadership that holds them accountable.
President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally reviewed the case, and the department’s spokesman stressed a zero-tolerance approach for employees who undermine America’s safety — the right move after years of officials turning a blind eye to China’s reach. That review and swift action underscore what conservatives have been saying for years: national security must be prioritized over the Washington culture of indulgence and excuse-making.
America needs more watchdogs and fewer insiders protecting one another. O’Keefe’s work may be controversial in method, but this episode shows why independent investigations often catch what bureaucracy misses, exposing real vulnerabilities before they become full-blown betrayals. Conservatives should demand tougher vetting, mandatory reporting compliance, and a culture in the Foreign Service that puts country before personal drama so that patriotism — not romance — is the first loyalty of those who represent us abroad.
