A former FBI bigwig’s betrayal rocked a sensitive investigation. Charles McGonigal, once a top counterintelligence official, spilled secrets about an FBI probe into a Chinese energy firm tied to the Biden family. His actions, now exposed, raise questions about trust in our institutions.
McGonigal, who led the FBI’s New York counterintelligence division from 2016 to 2018, leaked details of an investigation into the China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC) in June 2017. This breach, outlined in a Justice Department Inspector General report released Thursday, compromised a tightly guarded probe. It’s a stark reminder of how one rogue actor can undermine national security.
In a June 2017 meeting, McGonigal tipped off an Albanian official, known as “Person B,” who was working for CEFC. He casually remarked that the FBI was “looking into” or “going after” the firm. For a man in his position, such loose lips are not just careless—they’re catastrophic.
The very next day, Person B jetted to Washington, DC, to warn CEFC executive Patrick Ho about the FBI’s scrutiny. Ho, already on the agency’s radar, was alerted to potential arrests looming over him and others. This kind of leak doesn’t just tip the scales; it flips the table.
Person B didn’t stop there, sharing McGonigal’s intel with CEFC China Chairman Ye Jianming. Ye promptly warned another FBI target, dubbed “Target 3,” about the impending arrests. The ripple effect of McGonigal’s betrayal spread fast, threatening the entire investigation.
By November 2017, Person B reached out to McGonigal again, wary of attending a CEFC-sponsored event in New York. McGonigal, doubling down, advised him to “stay in Albania” and hinted the FBI was “ready for action.” His words, per the Inspector General, were a reckless encore of disloyalty.
Person B claimed he kept McGonigal’s second tip to himself, but the damage was done. Patrick Ho, undeterred, attended the New York event and was promptly arrested on bribery and money laundering charges. The FBI’s trap snapped shut, but McGonigal’s leaks had already muddied the waters.
Ho, it turns out, had ties to the Biden family. House Oversight Committee documents reveal Hunter Biden called Ho his client and the “f–king spy chief of China.” Such cozy connections raise eyebrows about what else might have been at play.
Ho agreed to pay Hunter Biden a $1 million retainer for legal counsel on U.S. law matters. Hunter, in correspondence, noted that CEFC deals would be “interesting for me and my family.” The Biden name, it seems, carried a premium in Chinese business circles.
Hunter and James Biden pocketed $4.8 million from CEFC China Energy, an affiliate of CEFC, in 2017 and 2018. That’s a hefty sum for a family already entangled in questions about influence peddling. The stench of impropriety lingers, even if the Inspector General report doesn’t directly accuse them.
James Biden, meanwhile, was busy playing detective. In November 2017, he emailed a retired U.S. Secret Service agent turned private investigator, urgently requesting a background check on Ho. “Re new case I need ASAP—I’m in Hong Kong,” his email read, dripping with urgency.
On a call, James Biden shared concerns from China that Ho might face arrest. He asked the investigator to check for an active warrant, claiming it was for his “own edification.” Sure, Jim, just curious about a potential international fugitive—nothing to see here.
The private investigator found no active warrant for Ho or the three others James inquired about, but warned that such records can be elusive. James later testified to Congress in February 2024, insisting, “Absolutely not,” when asked if he meant to tip off Ho. His denial feels convenient, but the report clears him of wrongdoing.
Ho’s decision to attend the CEFC event hinged on assurances from James Biden or another source, backed by the investigator’s findings. The FBI still nabbed Ho, but McGonigal’s leaks had already jeopardized chaos. It’s a masterclass in how to sabotage your own team.
The Inspector General didn’t mince words: McGonigal’s actions “dishonored the FBI’s core values” and “intentionally damaged an important criminal case.” His 50-month prison sentence in 2023 for colluding with a Russian oligarch only cements his legacy as a turncoat. When trust in our top cops crumbles, the whole system wobbles.
