What the Investigation Revealed

Undercover footage from O’Keefe Media Group captured Choi acknowledging that his girlfriend’s father was “straight-up Communist Party” and that she “could have been a spy.” Choi told the undercover journalist he deliberately concealed the relationship from State Department security officials despite being required to report any close personal contact with foreign nationals.

“I defied my government for love,” Choi said in the video. The State Department confirmed he violated long-standing security protocols requiring officers to immediately disclose “close and continuing contact” with individuals tied to hostile governments.

National Security Concerns

The case reflects mounting alarm within U.S. intelligence agencies over Chinese intelligence-gathering through personal relationships with American officials. A former senior intelligence official familiar with State Department security procedures said, “Romantic and social connections remain one of the most exploited vectors in Chinese espionage,” adding that unreported relationships represent significant vulnerabilities.

Counterintelligence experts have long warned that Beijing leverages romantic entanglements, financial incentives, and academic connections to collect sensitive information from U.S. personnel.

The Department’s Response

In announcing the dismissal, the State Department said Choi’s failure to report the relationship constituted grounds for separation under Executive Order 14211. “Every officer takes an oath to serve the United States and to uphold our security standards,” a State Department official said. “No one is above that.”

Secretary Rubio has pursued an aggressive posture against Chinese influence since taking office, tightening vetting procedures for foreign contacts and expanding background checks for personnel in East Asia and Washington-based policy roles.

This story has been updated. CNN’s team contributed to this report.