In a surprising turn of events, Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for Virginia's gubernatorial race, has reportedly received a hefty sum of $50,000 in campaign donations.
The donor, Pin Ni, is an executive at the Chinese automotive conglomerate Wanxiang Group and the head of the companys American subsidiary. Ni is also a member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a fact that has raised eyebrows given that Virginia law prohibits foreign nationals from making political contributions.
As reported by The Washington Free Beacon, the donations were made in April and May, sparking controversy and criticism from Republicans. Spanberger's support for electric vehicle credits and similar mandates, which could potentially benefit Wanxiangs EV businesses, has been the focus of the backlash.
"Abigail Spanbergers energy plan is a roadmap to ruin," declared Winsome Earle-Sears, Virginias lieutenant governor and Spanbergers Republican opponent. "Banning gas cars. Killing jobs. Crushing families under a radical progressive agenda," she added in a recent campaign ad.
The acceptance of funds from a CCP member by Spanberger, a former CIA officer and congresswoman who has positioned herself as a national security hawk on China, has raised ethical concerns. Peter Flaherty, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center, stated that Nis donation "raises many questions," including Ni's eligibility to make political donations as a U.S. citizen.
"Its bad enough if Spanberger is taking illegal campaign donations from a foreign source, but outrageous that its from a member of the Chinese Communist Party," NLPC counsel Paul Kamenar told the Washington Free Beacon.
Ni's involvement with the CCP is well-documented. He is a member of the board of directors for the Wanxiang Group, and has been recognized as an "Outstanding Communist Party Member of the Group" 15 times, according to the companys website.
In a 2018 speech, Wanxiang Group CEO Lu Weiding introduced Ni as one of the "seven Party Committee members" of Wanxiangs corporate CCP committee. "Everyone here is a Communist Party member," Lu said in the speech.
Ni's influence extends beyond China. He has served on the board of the U.S.-China Strong Foundation, a student foreign language exchange group that has promoted the Chinese military and the Belt and Road Initiative. He is also a vice chair of the China General Chamber of Commerce, which often hosts CCP leaders.
In the United States, Ni and his company have worked to implement programming directives from the Chinese government, including a student exchange program pushed by President Xi Jinping.
The luxury EV company KARMA Automotive, owned by Wanxiang America, was launched after purchasing the assets of distressed American car manufacturer Fisker Automotive in 2014. However, the EV industry suffered a setback in Virginia last year when Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin struck down an emissions law that would have required the state to "comply with expansive new mandates" on electric vehicles.
Earle-Sears supported the move and highlighted a 2020 interview in which Spanberger called for "moving away from a traditional vehicle to an electric vehicle." While Spanberger hasnt commented on whether she would reinstate an EV mandate, she has supported similar policies in the past. Her campaign website says she supports "incentives for increased deployment of clean energy sources" including "electric vehicles."
Wanxiangs KARMA was also a beneficiary of the Biden administrations Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, which made the company eligible for EV tax credits. Spanberger has said she was "proud" to vote for the legislation.
A spokesman for the Winsome Earle-Sears campaign told the Free Beacon that Spanberger was "once again cozying up to international interests." "Taking $50,000 from someone with clear Chinese Communist Party ties tells us all we need to know," said the spokesman. "You cant claim to stand up to foreign threats while pocketing money from someone celebrated by the CCP."
This controversy raises questions about the influence of foreign interests in American politics, and the potential conflicts that can arise when candidates accept donations from individuals with ties to foreign governments.
As the gubernatorial race continues, the actions of candidates like Spanberger will undoubtedly be scrutinized for their adherence to ethical standards and their commitment to the interests of the American people.
Login