Dem Senator Family’s Deepening Ties with China’s Communist Regime Exposed in New Report

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, known for his controversial claims about serving in Vietnam, is facing fresh scrutiny due to his family’s connections to entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

A review by Fox News Digital has uncovered that Blumenthal’s brother-in-law, Anthony “Tony” Malkin, who is the CEO of Empire State Realty Trust, has longstanding ties with Chinese diplomats and state-affiliated companies.

Malkin, who is also a key figure in a vast real estate empire, has been involved in hosting Chinese diplomats and recruiting CCP-affiliated businesses to lease space in the iconic Empire State Building in New York City.

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Malkin, who is married to Blumenthal’s wife Cynthia’s sister, has reportedly met with numerous Chinese consuls general over the past 15 years.

In addition to these meetings, Malkin’s company has struck leasing deals with several Chinese state-backed firms, including Air China, the telecommunications company PCCW-HKT, and People’s Daily Online—an outlet controlled by the CCP and known for its role in promoting the Chinese government’s propaganda.

In a 2011 interview with China Daily, Malkin openly discussed his trips to China to seek tenants for his properties.

He acknowledged securing leases with several of these CCP-linked companies, including People’s Daily Online, which operates as the CCP’s official news network.

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The China Media Project, an independent research organization, highlighted that People’s Daily Online enforces loyalty to the party among its staff.

Although People’s Daily Online moved out of the Empire State Building years ago, several other Chinese state-affiliated businesses remain.

For instance, Air China continues to lease space, and the Hong Kong-based company Li & Fung Ltd. occupies over 149,000 square feet of space, paying more than $8.3 million annually in rent, according to a 2024 financial report reviewed by Fox News.

Li & Fung’s chairman, Victor Fung, has been involved with the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a political advisory group considered to be a key channel of CCP influence.

Malkin’s company also reportedly established a “China business desk” to accommodate the growing demand from Chinese entities.

They also worked with Chinese tour groups, a fact Malkin’s company later disputed.

A spokesperson for Empire State Realty Trust stated that Malkin had never seen the 2011 China Daily article, despite multiple quotes attributed to him in that publication.

The connection between Malkin and Chinese officials goes beyond real estate deals.

Chinese consuls general have consistently praised Malkin and participated in public events celebrating Chinese culture at the Empire State Building, including lighting ceremonies for occasions such as the Lunar New Year and the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.

In 2023, Chinese diplomat Huang Ping appeared with Malkin to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, one of several high-profile photo opportunities between Malkin and Chinese officials.

Huang Ping has been a vocal defender of the Chinese government’s actions, including publicly denying the ongoing genocide of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.

Huang’s successor, Consul General Chen Li, was recently photographed with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Chen Li also expressed enthusiasm for continuing his collaboration with Malkin to “promote connections and friendship between our peoples.”

In response to the growing concerns, a spokesperson for Blumenthal’s office told Fox News, “Senator Blumenthal’s wife is one of literally thousands of shareholders in a publicly traded real estate company, and just like the rest of those shareholders, she doesn’t have control over anything this company does. Senator Blumenthal has absolutely nothing to do with any of this.”

The revelations regarding Malkin’s relationships with Chinese officials and state-run businesses come as Blumenthal faces further questions about his ties to entities with connections to the CCP.

While Blumenthal himself has not been implicated directly, his family’s connections continue to raise concerns, particularly amid ongoing scrutiny of Chinese influence in U.S. politics and business.

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