Jim Banks has called for an investigation into whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's frequent personal trips to China violated security protocols during his time in the National Guard.
Just The News reported that Banks, chair of the Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, has formally requested Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to probe Walz's past. Walz, who was recently named Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate, has made approximately 30 trips to China from 1989 to 2005, raising security concerns due to his position in the National Guard at the time.
Gov. Walz's extensive travel history includes visits that occurred while he held a possible security clearance as a senior enlisted guardsman.
A security clearance holder is obligated to report all foreign travel to the military to avoid potential foreign intelligence threats. Banks highlighted that any undisclosed trips could represent serious lapses in national security procedures.
Walz's initial trip to China was in 1989, as part of the WorldTeach program, where he served as an instructor in Foshan, southern China. This engagement, marking the beginning of numerous visits over nearly two decades, coincided with significant personal milestones and included multiple visits with family members.
The scrutiny over Walz's trips has intensified following his nomination as Vice President Harris’s running mate. Rep. Banks expressed concerns about whether Walz's travels and his reported affinity for China might blur his judgment regarding the Chinese Communist Party, which Banks views as a significant threat.
Banks expressed in his letter a myriad of concerns stemming from these trips, questioning how Walz reported these excursions to his superiors and whether all appropriate protocols were followed.
Banks remarked, “How did a senior enlisted guardsman, presumably with a Secret security clearance, travel to China regularly on unofficial business without raising red flags?”
During his military service, Walz should have reported his multiple personal trips to China, as per military regulations concerning security clearances. This includes documentation and potentially, approvals depending on the details of his clearance level and the nature of the trips.
Some of Walz's trips to China coincided with significant personal and historical events, including his honeymoon, which remarkably fell on the fifth anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre— a time of intense political scrutiny between China and the West.
Rep. Banks has thus painted a picture of a figure who, while ascending in political and military ranks, maintained ongoing personal and potentially controversial ties with a foreign nation known for its intensive intelligence efforts against the U.S.
The congressional leader’s request from Secretary Austin is not just about the travel itself but about shedding light on the transparency and security consciousness that is expected of every holder of a security clearance.
Banks stated, “Any individual traveling dozens of times to an adversary nation in a personal capacity while having access to classified information poses an obvious security risk.”
Aside from the trips, Banks also criticized Walz's general disposition towards China. He pointed out Walz's tendency to downplay the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party, which could be inferred as an underestimation of potential national security risks.
The representative's remarks underline not only the alleged security missteps but also an ideological concern about how Walz perceives one of the U.S.'s notable geopolitical adversaries.
As this story develops, the focus remains on how the Department of Defense responds to Banks' request for transparency and whether Gov. Walz’s past travels might impact his future role in the federal government.
In conclusion, Rep. Jim Banks has sought clarity on Gov. Tim Walz’s numerous personal trips to China, questioning the adherence to required security protocols for such travels, amidst broader concerns regarding Walz’s views towards China. This call for investigation arrives at a pivotal time as Walz steps onto the national political stage as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee.