A federal judge who’s been a thorn in the side of the Trump administration participated in a sketchy Chinese-American legal exchange program.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who’s been accused of judicial “abuse” by congressional Republicans, participated in a Chinese-American legal exchange program run by the U.S.-Asia Institute (USAI), according to a deep-dive investigation by investigative journalist Natalie Winters.
In addition, Boasberg was listed as a host for the program nine times between 2015 and 2024, including six appearances while he was serving on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC). One of those appearances occurred in 2020, when Boasberg was the FISC’s presiding judge.
The problem is that, according to a 2023 program flyer from Tsinghua University, the program was underwritten by the Chinese Communist Party-linked China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF).
Tsinghua’s 2023 recruitment flyer names CUSEF as an underwriter.
It promises Chinese applicants “exclusive conversations with influential actors” and proceedings “few are ever able to witness firsthand.”
Boasberg was a host that year. pic.twitter.com/F9qcJhUrOc
— Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) September 17, 2026
In her report, Winters cited a 2025 letter from House China Committee chairman John Moolenaar describing CUSEF as an organization involved in Chinese “political warfare” and influence efforts.
“The letter cited Senate Intelligence Committee proceedings identifying CUSEF as ‘a united front-linked organization that advances Chinese Communist Party interests,'” she reported. “It warned that CUSEF-supported programs can help the party cultivate future leaders and build influence inside American institutions.”
Winters also noted in her report that the Chinese-American legal exchange program placed an emphasis on giving Chinese law students access to prominent American officials, judges, and institutions.
Promotional material unearthed by her advertised opportunities to speak with influential people in U.S. government, law, and business, and to observe proceedings that ordinary visitors rarely see. Participants were Chinese citizens studying law at Chinese universities.
Winters’ report included a 2015 photograph of Boasberg sitting on a courtroom judicial dais with Chinese participants of the program:
EXCLUSIVE: Judge Boasberg was a 9-time host for a CCP-founded program run by a Chinese spy front flagged for its efforts to compromise Americans.
SIX were during his FISA term—with access to top secret intelligence. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/phgdrwCto1
— Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) September 17, 2026
The report also noted that CUSEF founder Tung Chee-hwa held a senior position in China’s Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which Winters linked to the CCP’s United Front system. The United Front is a political strategy and network used by the CCP to co-opt, influence, and neutralize potential opposition inside and outside China.
Winters also described the involvement of Sun Chao, whom USAI described as a senior official in Shanghai’s Minhang District. She noted that his actual position was Communist Party secretary of the district.
The report concluded by noting that USAI has cultivated a much larger network involving American government and judicial figures. USAI’s own documents show that it’s taken more than 1,500 congressional staffers to China and has interacted with more than 140 U.S. judges.
Its documents also list appearances by Supreme Court justices Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, although Kavanaugh and Jackson participated while they were lower-court judges.
Winters suggested throughout the report that CUSEF is a CCP-linked spy front and that Boasberg’s participation raises questions about his relationship with Chinese influence operations.
That said, while the report cites government officials and congressional materials supporting concerns about CUSEF’s relationship with the CCP, it never presents evidence that Boasberg himself was knowingly working for, recruited by, or acting on behalf of the Chinese government.
In other words, the report is mainly about a U.S. federal judge having repeated, documented involvement with a China-focused legal exchange whose funding and institutional relationships have subsequently attracted scrutiny from U.S. national-security officials.
Not just any U.S. federal judge, but Boasberg, who’s been a real pain in the pass for the Trump administration. In fact, some say he’s become the veritable face of the opposition movement against President Donald Trump.
BREAKING 🚨 Trump just exposed Activist Judge James Boasberg with Kamala Harris’s husband 🤯
TRUMP: “SUCH A CONFLICT OF INTEREST”
Mainstream Media will never show you this pic.twitter.com/igyRCCAHOO
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) March 22, 2025
Boasberg has repeatedly blocked the president’s orders, including one calling for the deportation of Venezuelan illegal aliens.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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