JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (TND) — Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announcedWednesday he would expand an investigation into a Missouri non-profit with alleged ties to China.
The group, Chinese Service Center in St. Louis, allegedly has close associations with the People’s Republic of China. Bailey wrote in a press release he is renewing his probe into the organization to obtain records detailing the group’s “acts or omissions of their solicitation of donations and other activities.”
“As Attorney General, I will enforce the laws as written, which includes holding accountable those who violate the law by taking advantage of Missouri non-profits,” Bailey said. “Our investigation centers on allegations that the communist government of China is attempting to establish a footprint in the Show Me State. My office takes these allegations very seriously and will continue to fight for and protect Missouri citizens and consumers.”
Also included in the release were details claiming Bailey “has reason to believe that the Subject(s) have engaged in, are engaging in, or are about to engage in, deception, fraud, false promises, misrepresentation, unfair practices, and/or the concealment, suppression, or omission of material facts in connection with the solicitation of charitable funds.”
The announcement is the latest step by Republican lawmakers to crack down on domestic Chinese influence. On the heels of a February AT&T outage, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.,warned a hypothetical cyberattack could severely damage U.S. internet infrastructures.
“I don’t know the cause of the AT&T outage,” Sen. Rubio wrote via X. “But I do know it will be 100 times worse when #China launches a cyber attack on America on the eve of a #Taiwan invasion. And it won’t be just cell service they hit, it will be your power, your water and your bank.”
Follow Jackson Walker on X at @_jlwalker_ for the latest trending national news. Have a news tip? Send it to jacwalker@sbgtv.com.
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