Newly Released DHS Memos Show Internal Concerns Over Political Figure’s Foreign Ties
A set of internal memos from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI have surfaced, shedding light on long-standing concerns about Governor Tim Walz’s ties to Chinese government entities. The documents, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit by Judicial Watch, suggest that federal officials flagged issues surrounding Walz’s engagement with China well before his entry onto the national political stage.
The communications, made public by watchdog group Judicial Watch and shared with Just the News, were recorded in an internal DHS chat titled “NST NFT Bi-Weekly Sync.” They capture real-time reactions and strategic concerns immediately following Walz’s selection as then-candidate Kamala Harris’s running mate during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Immediate Reactions From Inside DHS
In one of the most revealing messages, dated August 7, 2024, a DHS official posted a link to a BBC article highlighting Chinese state media’s praise of the Walz pick with the comment, “China is happy.” Other messages suggested that the matter warranted FBI involvement due to potential counterintelligence implications.
“With FBI mission in the CI field I believe they need to get included,” one message read.
These discussions were part of a broader monitoring effort related to “subnational engagement” between U.S. state officials and Chinese government interests. The content of the chat log reflects growing concern that such interactions could evolve into influence operations or foreign interference.
Background of Engagement With China
Governor Walz’s ties to China stretch back decades, according to Oversight Committee documents and past interviews. As a high school teacher in Nebraska during the 1990s, he organized student trips to China, welcomed CCP officials into his classroom, and often spoke positively about the Chinese model of governance.
In a decades-old interview with the Alliance Times-Herald, Walz described China as a place “where everyone is the same and everyone shares.” He emphasized equality in income and state-provided food and housing as positives. These remarks have since resurfaced in discussions around foreign influence.
Walz’s support for deeper global cooperation has continued into recent years. In a 2025 panel hosted by the Center for American Progress, he spoke alongside Neera Tanden and offered that China may be the only global actor capable of brokering peace in the Middle East, stating, “It might be the Chinese.”
House Oversight Committee Steps In
Concerns about Walz’s ties to China reached the legislative branch as well. The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer (R-KY), had already launched an investigation into foreign influence operations before Walz’s rise as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee.
In a letter attached to a subpoena for DHS documents, Comer outlined the Committee’s objectives: understanding how foreign governments—particularly the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)—might influence American politics through long-standing relationships with U.S. state-level officials.
“The Committee’s investigation… seeks to understand the extent of the CCP’s infiltration and influence campaign and to identify legislative reforms to combat CCP political warfare,” Comer wrote.
Judicial Watch: “Cover-Up Attempt” Alleged
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton criticized the initial lack of transparency from the Biden-era DHS. According to the group, the agency resisted releasing the records until current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem complied with a court order.
“This is every bit as important as the Russiagate disclosures,” Fitton said. “The Biden gang obviously covered this all up to try to help rig the election.”
The 47-page release includes several references to FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) collaboration, suggesting that the concerns weren’t isolated or informal. One message confirmed, “Yes, there [was] involvement with HSI and FBI on things here.”
What the Memos Show
Among the most notable chat messages:
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“Walz got the VP. You all have no idea how this feeds into what the PRC has been doing here with him and local gov…”
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“It’s seriously a line of intel. Target someone who is perceived they can get to DC.”
The memos paint a picture of federal officials raising alarm bells, only to be overridden—or ignored—during a highly sensitive election cycle.
Political Implications Still Unfolding
Though the 2024 election is now in the rear-view mirror, the revelations continue to stir debate over foreign influence in U.S. politics. The Oversight Committee has not announced whether it will hold hearings related to the Walz documents, but congressional aides suggest more subpoenas could be forthcoming.
What remains clear is that federal officials took the issue seriously. Whether the American public will, too, may depend on what else comes to light.
