The controversy emerged after hidden-camera recordings published by O’Keefe Media Group appeared to show the officer, identified as Choi, discussing the relationship and acknowledging that he intentionally kept it hidden from government officials. In the video, Choi allegedly admitted that his girlfriend’s father was “straight-up Communist Party” and even suggested that she “could have been a spy.”

According to the footage, Choi said he knowingly violated State Department reporting rules because of the relationship. “I defied my government for love,” he stated during the secretly recorded conversation.

The State Department later confirmed that disciplinary action had been taken. A spokesperson said the officer had been terminated after failing to comply with security requirements that obligate foreign service personnel to disclose close relationships with foreign nationals, especially individuals connected to governments considered strategic rivals or security concerns.

Officials also noted that the dismissal may be the first carried out under Executive Order 14211, signed earlier this year by President Donald Trump. The order strengthens presidential authority over foreign policy personnel and states that employees responsible for implementing U.S. foreign policy must do so under the direction of the president. It further explains that failure to follow those responsibilities can result in disciplinary measures, including removal from service.

In its public statement, the department said the officer admitted on camera to concealing the relationship and acknowledged that the woman involved may have posed a potential intelligence risk. The statement added that the failure to report the contact represented a serious breach of department policy and security obligations.

Counterintelligence experts have long warned that foreign governments, including China, sometimes use personal relationships, business ties, or academic connections to gather information from U.S. officials and institutions. Former intelligence personnel familiar with diplomatic security procedures described undisclosed romantic relationships as a significant vulnerability because they can expose officials to pressure, manipulation, or blackmail.

The State Department declined to provide additional details about the internal investigation but confirmed that long-standing rules require employees to immediately report continuing relationships with foreign nationals who may have ties to foreign governments.

According to reports, Choi told the undercover journalist that his girlfriend’s father held a senior role within the Chinese Communist Party’s education system, possibly at the provincial or national level.

Following the release of the footage, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly supported the decision to remove the officer, emphasizing the importance of enforcing security standards and preventing foreign influence within American diplomatic institutions.