A Chinese national has been arrested for repeatedly trying to breach security at Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump’s private club and residence.
The suspect, Zijie Li, 38, of El Monte, California, claimed to be in possession of documents related to the Chinese government’s recent attempt to assassinate Trump.
WPTV reports that Lee first attempted to drive a Toyota Prius into Mar-a-Lago around 8 p.m. on July 19. Secret Service agents stopped him at the gate.
Lee claimed he had vital information linking China to the assassination attempt on the former president and insisted on handing over the documents. However, the Secret Service notified him of trespassing and prohibited him from leaving any material behind.
Palm Beach police were called to the scene and issued Lee a written trespass warning, instructing him not to return without threat of arrest. Nonetheless, at 5:30 p.m. on July 30, Lee was again spotted driving to the Mar-a-Lago checkpoint on South Ocean Boulevard, blocking traffic.
An officer stopped Lee and pointed out that his GPS destination was Mar-a-Lago. He was released but reappeared an hour later. Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach officer stopped Lee, reiterated the trespassing warning, and then released him.
On July 31, Lee again tried to enter the estate, passing several Secret Service checkpoints before being stopped at the south gate.
“He returned again around 10 a.m. and drove east on Southern Boulevard, across the Intracoastal Waterway, past a Secret Service checkpoint and attempted to enter Sea Lake at the south gate of the estate,” police said, according to the Palm Beach Daily News. Manor. Reports say he returned to Mar-a-Lago and violated the trespassing warning. When security told Lee he couldn’t enter Mar-a-Lago, he left again — but this time, police were looking for him.
In light of his previous warnings, police issued a “vigilance” alert. Lee was eventually arrested at an intersection north of Mar-a-Lago.
Trump was not at the estate when the incident occurred.
After being warned, he now faces one count of criminal trespassing and is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail with bail increased from $3,000 to $10,000.
watch:
Man claims documents link attacks to China pic.twitter.com/GmLU4cNyCu
— Karlie Boehner (@KarluskaP) August 2, 2024
Lee pleaded not guilty on Friday to trespassing at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club.
Palm Beach Daily News reports:
In an initial court appearance on Friday that was delayed by a Mandarin-speaking interpreter, Lee pleaded not guilty and was ordered not to contact Mar-a-Lago, Trump or the Trump campaign, court records show.
On Friday, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office filed a request for a risk protection order to prevent Lee from obtaining a firearm or ammunition, court records show.
Lee is represented by a Palm Beach County public defender. As a matter of policy, the office does not comment on pending cases.
A Palm Beach police spokesman said it was the first security-related arrest at Mar-a-Lago since July 13, when a gunman attacked Trump as he spoke at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. shot. The gunman was 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. He wounded Trump’s right ear and shot three Trump supporters. One of them died and was later taken to prison. Killed by Secret Service agents.
Since that incident, the Secret Service has increased security around the Trump estate and other properties, including the agency’s decision to close Southern Ocean Boulevard next to Mar-a-Lago. The blockade extends from the South Avenue Traffic Circle northward to Nanxian Road and takes effect at 5 a.m. on July 20.
