WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department has terminated a Foreign Service Officer after he admitted to concealing a romantic relationship with the daughter of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) affiliate, marking the first dismissal under a new executive order aimed at strengthening accountability in the diplomatic corps.
Daniel Choi was fired following an internal review ordered by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The decision stems from an undercover investigation by O’Keefe Media Group (OMG), which captured Choi acknowledging that his girlfriend’s father was “straight-up Communist Party” and that she “could have been a spy.” In the recorded video, Choi stated, “I defied my government for love,” while discussing his failure to report the relationship as required by security protocols.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed the termination, noting that Choi violated mandatory reporting requirements for close and continuing contact with foreign nationals who may have ties to hostile governments. “The Foreign Service Officer admitted to concealing a romantic relationship with a Chinese national, whom he said on camera ‘could have been a spy,’” the department said in a statement. “He also said that her father was ‘straight-up Communist Party.’ … Accordingly, the Secretary recommended that the officer be separated for failing to faithfully implement the President’s foreign policy.”
The action was taken under Executive Order 14211, signed by President Donald Trump earlier this year, which reinforces presidential authority over foreign policy implementation and establishes grounds for discipline, including separation, for failures to comply.
Espionage Concerns
Choi reportedly told the undercover journalist that the woman’s father held a position as either a provincial or federal education minister within the CCP structure. The case highlights longstanding U.S. counterintelligence warnings about Chinese efforts to exploit personal relationships for intelligence gathering.
“Romantic and social connections remain one of the most exploited vectors in Chinese espionage,” said a former senior intelligence official familiar with State Department procedures. “An unreported relationship like this represents a massive vulnerability.”
Since assuming his role, Secretary Rubio has prioritized tightening vetting procedures for foreign contacts and expanding background checks, particularly for personnel involved in East Asia policy. The swift action in Choi’s case underscores the administration’s emphasis on safeguarding national security within the diplomatic ranks.
