Introducing an innovative feature: Listen to the latest Fox News articles directly! While the public is engrossed in the heated debates surrounding charges against the former president and the current president’s family, there is another issue of national security ethics that demands attention. Recent reports reveal that the United States and Germany have collectively provided Ukraine with a staggering $127 billion in aid during the war, all while China closely collaborates with Russia. However, an intriguing twist emerges as it is discovered that China donated $100 million to the University of Pennsylvania under the supervision of the current U.S. ambassador to Germany, Amy Gutmann. The situation warrants closer inspection and necessitates that Ambassador Gutmann address a series of inquiries from Congress.
The University of Pennsylvania’s connection to the Penn Biden Center, established by former President Amy Gutmann and frequented by donors during Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, has recently come to light. Meetings at the center have also taken place with individuals who would later become part of Biden’s inner circle, including Antony Blinken. One critical issue surrounding the Penn Biden Center, one that has largely been disregarded, is an audio recording of Ambassador Gutmann’s Senate confirmation hearing. At the hearing, Gutmann claimed to be unaware of any Chinese funding entering the university. However, Paul Moore, former head investigative counsel for the Department of Education during the prior administration, testified before Congress, stating that there exists a tape recording discussing the Penn Biden Center during an event in China. This event coincided with a significant influx of donations to the university while Gutmann was president. These claims contradict previous statements made by the university, which asserted that the Penn Biden Center never sought or received donations from Chinese or any other foreign entities. While the Chinese money was given directly to the university, it appears that the Penn Biden Center’s name was leveraged to raise funds. The true extent of the donors’ involvement and whether they had access to the president’s rarely used office remains uncertain without the visitor logs, which may or may not be supplied by Penn to Congress. Furthermore, the existence of a locked closet containing unauthorized, classified documents from Biden raises questions about who may have had access to it during its six-year concealment.
It is important to note that the Chinese government is undoubtedly aware of the funds donated to Penn and its origins. They also possess information regarding whether Ambassador Gutmann was forthcoming with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about these matters during her confirmation hearing in 2021. This raises a significant question worth $100 million: If Gutmann’s denials and lack of transparency regarding soliciting Chinese donations to Penn during her visits to China while serving as the university’s president indicate a compromise, then is there an immediate security risk that demands attention?
The larger issue at hand is Ambassador Gutmann’s current role as the U.S. ambassador to Germany, a pivotal country concerning military intelligence regarding Ukraine’s defensive war against Russia and U.S. aid to Ukraine, while China works in coordination with Russia. To obtain clarity on her past dealings with China, Ambassador Gutmann ought to be summoned back to Washington to testify before the House Oversight and Foreign Affairs committees, as well as the Senate. Congress members should fulfill their responsibilities instead of solely pressuring current Penn President Liz Magill to answer questions about what occurred at the institution during Gutmann’s tenure. After all, Gutmann bears the potential security risk as the U.S. ambassador.
Often, elite universities argue that they operate privately and are not subject to government interference, despite receiving millions from federal subsidies and undisclosed foreign donors. With massive endowments accumulated over decades through tax dollars, the least universities can do is ensure they do not become conduits for foreign donors, potentially including foreign intelligence agencies’ access to high-ranking U.S. government officials, thus jeopardizing our national security. However, it must be acknowledged that Chinese money significantly influences universities across the United States. The Justice Department initiated an investigation into this matter, known as the China Initiative. Unfortunately, Attorney General Merrick Garland terminated the FBI’s China Initiative in February of last year, shortly after receiving an open letter from over 160 University of Pennsylvania faculty members and other universities demanding its closure, citing concerns over racial profiling. The opposition to the DOJ’s China Initiative came from a collective effort by Penn, Harvard, and the University of Minnesota. The DOJ’s documentation lists several criminal cases resulting from the China Initiative, highlighting academics who were involved in espionage or failed to disclose foreign donations and financial ties as required. It is imperative that the DOJ upholds national security laws without resorting to racial profiling.
Although Gutmann acknowledged accepting some Chinese donations during her 2021 confirmation hearing, she assured that they did not compromise the university’s values. Furthermore, she denied any involvement in establishing a Confucius Institute on campus linked to the Chinese government through funders. Nevertheless, Confucius Institutes merely represent the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Chinese government influence in foreign universities. Consequently, it remains crucial to understand what Ambassador Gutmann knew about the $100 million raised from China during the final years of her presidency at Penn and why she claimed no recollection during her Senate testimony.
This situation underscores the unfortunate reality that ethical standards within our system have become deeply political. Both Democrats and Republicans tend to focus on the failings of the opposing party while overlooking their own issues. Adopting a “lesser of two evils” mentality does not warrant selective enforcement of our nation’s laws. If we continue down this path of polarization, our country may find itself in treacherous waters. To ensure national security, it is vital that the House Oversight Committee and Judiciary prioritize uncovering the truth rather than engaging in partisan politics. Amy Gutmann, as the U.S. ambassador to Germany during the ongoing war in Ukraine, must be called upon to testify regarding any potential ties to China.
In conclusion, Fox News provides a unique opportunity to listen to their articles directly. The content presented here sheds light on the complex matter of national security ethics, particularly in relation to U.S. ambassador Amy Gutmann and her involvement with Chinese donations to the University of Pennsylvania. As the nation grapples with issues of extensive political divisiveness, it is crucial that our elected officials prioritize the pursuit of truth and national security over partisan motivations. If we fail to do so, we risk compromising our nation’s well-being.
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