An aide to a Democratic Congressman was fired after being accused of secretly working with the Chinese Embassy.
Virginia Democratic Rep. Don Beyer’s aide was fired after she was busted for allegedly working with the Chinese Embassy in setting up meetings with the other Congressional offices.
According to the reports, Barbara Hamlett, who previously worked with lawmakers late Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), former Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA), Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), and former Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), was working as a scheduler in Rep. Beyer’s office when the secret activities took place.
In an official statement released by Beyer’s deputy chief of staff Aaron Fritschner, he revealed that “Congressman Beyer was totally unaware of these activities prior to being contacted by the House Sergeant At Arms.”
“As soon as he learned of them, he followed every directive he was given by security officials. The staffer in question is no longer employed by the office of Congressman Beyer,” Fritschner said.
The Deputy chief of staff revealed that Rep. Beyer was “deeply upset” upon learning what his now-former staffer was up to.
“He has been an outspoken critic of China’s record on human rights, including their crackdown in Hong Kong and their oppression of the Muslim Uyghur population in Xinjiang as well as an advocate for Tibet, and a vocal supporter of Taiwan.” Fritschner added.
“While Congressman Beyer had no inkling of this staffer’s actions and acted promptly upon learning of them, he understands that his constituents may be shocked to learn of this, just as he was. He pledges to them that he will remain a fierce critic of China’s record, continue to oppose the CCP’s totalitarian repression of its citizens, and hold himself and his staff to the highest professional and ethical standards,” he continued.
Amid the controversy, another congressional aide also released a statement against Hamlett and revealed that the 34-year old veteran of Capitol Hill would come “to my office and asks that we step out into the hallway, and she says she is friends with the Chinese embassy and that they have been trying to get in contact with me.”
In an exclusive report released by the National Review, it was revealed that “Hamlett had also attempted to schedule a separate meeting between a Republican aide and a Chinese diplomat after that aide had, likewise, ignored emails from Chinese embassy staff. She introduced herself in a message sent from an official House of Representatives email account.”
“I have worked on The Hill for nearly 34 yrs. and worked 5 of those years as Deputy Scheduler to the late Senator Arlen Specter. I would like to introduce you to some friends of mine that work at the Chinese Embassy who would like to meet you and have a chat,” Hamlett allegedly wrote, inviting the staffer to a lunch meeting.
