Introduction to the Pardon
President Donald Trump granted a pardon Friday to a former New York police sergeant who was convicted of helping China try to scare an ex-official into going back to his homeland, a prominent case in U.S. authorities’ efforts to combat what they claim are Beijing’s far-flung efforts to repress critics.
The Case of Michael McMahon
Michael McMahon was sentenced this spring to 18 months in prison for his role in what a federal judge called “a campaign of transnational repression." He insisted he was innocent, saying he was “unwittingly used” when he took what he thought was a straightforward private-investigator gig. McMahon said he was told he was working for a Chinese construction company, not the nation’s government.
The Pardon Decision
A White House official, speaking Friday on condition of anonymity to discuss a pardon that hasn’t been publicly announced, pointed to McMahon’s explanation that he’d been misled. The official also noted that McMahon earned dozens of commendations before a 2001 injury ended his 14-year NYPD career.
Reaction to the Pardon
McMahon’s lawyer, Lawrence Lustberg, said the pardon “corrects a horrible injustice.”
“I will always believe that it was the Chinese government that victimized Mike, a true hero cop, whom our government should have celebrated and honored, rather than indicted,” Lustberg said by email.
The Brooklyn-based federal prosecutors’ office that brought the case declined to comment.
Operation Fox Hunt
McMahon was one of three men convicted at the first trial stemming from U.S. claims about China’s decade-old “Operation Fox Hunt” initiative. His co-defendants, both Chinese citizens, also were convicted and sentenced to prison, where they remain.
U.S. authorities have viewed “Operation Fox Hunt,” in at least some instances, as a tool of “transnational repression” — a term for sending government operatives to harass, threaten and silence dissidents living abroad.
Beijing says it’s just trying to repatriate fugitives, including corrupt officials, and denies making threats to secure their return.
Conclusion
The pardon of Michael McMahon highlights the complexities of the U.S.-China relationship and the challenges of combating transnational repression. While the pardon may be seen as a victory for McMahon, it also raises questions about the extent to which the U.S. government will go to protect its citizens from foreign interference.
FAQs
Q: What was Michael McMahon convicted of?
A: Michael McMahon was convicted of helping China try to scare an ex-official into going back to his homeland.
Q: What is Operation Fox Hunt?
A: Operation Fox Hunt is a Chinese initiative that the U.S. views as a tool of transnational repression, used to harass, threaten, and silence dissidents living abroad.
Q: What was the reaction to the pardon?
A: McMahon’s lawyer, Lawrence Lustberg, said the pardon “corrects a horrible injustice,” while the Brooklyn-based federal prosecutors’ office declined to comment.
