The U.S. State Department has made a historic decision to dismiss Daniel Choi, a Foreign Service officer, after a controversial undercover video surfaced. Choi was shown admitting to concealing a romantic relationship with a woman associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This unprecedented move received endorsement from President Donald Trump, as confirmed by the State Department.
The dismissal follows an internal review, underscoring the imperatives of national security and adherence to foreign policy conduct prescribed by the executive order. The State Department's statement highlighted the necessity for officers to faithfully execute U.S. foreign policy under the president's direction. Failure to comply with these directives could lead to disciplinary actions, including termination, as evidenced by Choi's case.
Under Article II of the U.S. Constitution, the president possesses the authority to direct foreign policy via appointed officials. In Choi's situation, the State Department exercised this authority, reacting to his acknowledgment of the undisclosed relationship.
A spokesperson from the State Department relayed to O’Keefe Media Group (OMG) that Choi's termination is the first of its kind in U.S. history, marking a significant moment in the enforcement of federal employment regulations. Details concerning the initiation of the investigation into Choi or the duration of his employment with the agency were not disclosed by the department.
The released undercover footage by OMG captured Choi in a candid moment, where he confessed to his romantic involvement with the daughter of a high-ranking CCP official. The video also depicted Choi conceding to the potential national security risks his actions might have posed. "I defied my government for love," Choi stated, further admitting to his awareness of her father's prominent position within the Communist Party and the possibility that his partner could have been a spy.
Federal employees engaged in relationships with foreign nationals are obligated to file mandatory disclosures, a security measure in place to avert potential conflicts of interest or foreign influence. Choi's failure to comply with this requirement, as he disclosed in the video, constituted a clear violation of security protocols, leading to his immediate dismissal.
The incident has cast a spotlight on the stringent procedures governing foreign relationships among U.S. government officials, especially those with access to sensitive information. Foreign Service officers undergo extensive background checks, periodic security assessments, and are bound by strict disclosure obligations to protect national security interests from potential exploitation by foreign intelligence entities.
The OMG video, which has garnered significant attention, portrays Choi's decision to withhold information about the relationship as a deliberate breach of trust. The tweet by James O'Keefe from OMG outlines the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the historical nature of the dismissal carried out with the approval of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump.
