A DOJ watchdog report has exposed a rogue FBI official’s betrayal, leaking sensitive details of a criminal probe tied to Hunter Biden’s murky Chinese business ventures, as Just the News reports. Charles McGonigal, once a top FBI counterintelligence chief, fed confidential information to a businessman linked to CEFC, a Chinese conglomerate, undermining a major investigation. His actions, driven by self-interest, raise serious questions about integrity at the FBI’s highest levels.
McGonigal, a former special agent in charge of the FBI’s New York Counterintelligence Division, leaked details of a CEFC investigation to a shadowy figure known as Person B. This probe scrutinized CEFC, a multibillion-dollar Chinese energy firm with ties to Hunter Biden’s business dealings. The leak tipped off key players, including CEFC’s chairman, about looming arrests, derailing justice.
Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, held a lucrative board position at Ukrainian energy giant Burisma during his father’s vice presidency. From 2013 to 2018, he raked in millions from Chinese entities, including CEFC, founded by Communist Party-linked tycoon Ye Jianming. These deals, reeking of influence peddling, now face renewed scrutiny thanks to McGonigal’s misconduct.
In June 2017, McGonigal warned Person B, a consultant for CEFC and advisor to Albania’s prime minister, about planned FBI arrests tied to the CEFC probe. He admitted during a November 2023 proffer interview to disclosing that CEFC figures, including deputy Patrick Ho, faced arrest if they entered the U.S. His “bravado,” as he called it, smells more like a calculated move to curry favor for future profits.
“McGonigal admitted making it perfectly clear to ‘these people would be arrested,’” the DOJ watchdog reported. This wasn’t loose talk; it was a deliberate breach by a seasoned FBI veteran who knew the stakes. His leaks enabled CEFC’s chairman to warn Ho and others in Hong Kong, likely sparing them from U.S. justice.
The DOJ’s Acting Inspector General William M. Blier concluded McGonigal’s actions caused “substantial” damage to the CEFC investigation. The full harm may never be known, as targets like Ho were tipped off, altering their plans. This betrayal didn’t just hobble one case -- it shook public trust in the FBI.
Hunter Biden’s CEFC ties included a $1 million legal retainer from Patrick Ho, who sought his help after an arrest for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Ho’s first call post-arrest in 2017 went to James Biden, Joe Biden’s brother, who claimed it was meant for Hunter. This cozy family network reeks of exploiting political connections for cash.
CEFC, led by Ye Jianming, funneled millions to Hunter Biden and his associates between 2017 and 2018. Ye, who later vanished amid a Chinese corruption probe, gifted Hunter an $80,000 diamond in 2017. Such lavish gestures suggest more than just business—perhaps a bid to buy influence.
James Comer, House Oversight Committee chairman, revealed in 2023 that Biden family members pocketed over $1.3 million from CEFC-linked accounts. These payments, funneled through associate Rob Walker, went to Hunter, James, and even Hallie Biden. The Biden clan’s Chinese cash grab raises eyebrows about their priorities.
McGonigal’s leaks had real consequences: CEFC’s chairman warned a target not to return to the U.S., likely dodging arrest. Despite the warning, Ho returned in 2017, possibly misled by James Biden or others, and was arrested. The DOJ watchdog noted Ho’s decision stemmed from bad advice, possibly from a private investigator.
“The impact of McGonigal’s misconduct extends far beyond the damage he inflicted on the CEFC case,” the DOJ inspector general stressed. When a top FBI official trades secrets for personal gain, it poisons the agency’s morale and public confidence. McGonigal’s actions mirror the corruption he was tasked to fight.
McGonigal faced justice for other crimes, receiving 50 months in prison in December 2023 for money laundering tied to a Russian oligarch and 28 months in February 2024 for taking $225,000 from an Albanian official. These consecutive sentences reflect a pattern of greed over duty. Yet, no obstruction of justice charges were filed for the CEFC leak, a curious leniency.
Hunter Biden’s CEFC dealings weren’t isolated; he pursued lucrative ventures in China and beyond during and after his father’s vice presidency. His reference to Patrick Ho as “the fucking spy chief of China” in a 2018 recording suggests he knew the stakes. Yet, the Biden family’s financial ties to CEFC continued unabated.
Joe Biden, during a 2020 debate, claimed, “My son has not made money… from China.” Bank records tell a different story, with millions flowing to Hunter and associates from CEFC-linked entities. Such denials strain credulity, especially given Joe’s later pardon of Hunter in December 2024 for crimes spanning 2014 onward.
McGonigal’s leaks, Hunter’s deals, and Joe’s denials paint a troubling picture of elite impunity. The DOJ watchdog’s report exposes how personal gain trumped justice, leaving Americans to question who really guards the public interest. This saga demands accountability, not excuses, from those entrusted with power.
