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Yujing Zhang: Woman who sparked alarm at Mar-a-Lago found guilty Yujing Zhang: Woman who sparked alarm at Mar-a-Lago found guilty
(about 1 hour later)
A Chinese woman has been found guilty of trespassing at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and of lying to a federal agent.A Chinese woman has been found guilty of trespassing at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and of lying to a federal agent.
Yujing Zhang, 33, was arrested in March and was found carrying several electronic devices.Yujing Zhang, 33, was arrested in March and was found carrying several electronic devices.
She faces up to six years in prison when she is sentenced in November.She faces up to six years in prison when she is sentenced in November.
Zhang, who acted as her own lawyer, maintained her innocence during her closing arguments, telling the court: "I did nothing wrong."Zhang, who acted as her own lawyer, maintained her innocence during her closing arguments, telling the court: "I did nothing wrong."
"I went into the Mar-a-Lago to have a visit," Zhang told the jury. "So that's what I want to say, and thank you for your attention."
Her trial in Florida saw several odd moments. Despite the judge's attempts to persuade her otherwise, Zhang fired her public counsel, choosing to represent herself.Her trial in Florida saw several odd moments. Despite the judge's attempts to persuade her otherwise, Zhang fired her public counsel, choosing to represent herself.
She often appeared not entirely comfortable speaking in English, was also accused of pretending not to understand proceedings. She often appeared uncomfortable speaking in English, and was also accused of pretending not to understand proceedings.
On Monday, Zhang arrived in court in her jail uniform instead of civilian clothes, complaining she had not been provided with undergarments. Judge Altman allowed her to change before the trial began.On Monday, Zhang arrived in court in her jail uniform instead of civilian clothes, complaining she had not been provided with undergarments. Judge Altman allowed her to change before the trial began.
What happened at Mar-a-Lago?What happened at Mar-a-Lago?
Zhang was arrested on 30 March at the president's club carrying two Chinese passports, a computer and four mobile phones, among other devices, agents said. Zhang was arrested on 30 March at the president's club carrying two Chinese passports, a computer and four mobile phones, among other devices, agents said. Claims one of the devices was loaded with malware were later rescinded.
She was also initially accused of carrying a device loaded with malware, but agents rescinded that claim. Zhang told security at Mar-a-Lago that she was there to go to the pool, but later told a receptionist she was there for a United Nations event that prosecutors said she knew had been cancelled, according to court documents.
Zhang had told security at Mar-a-Lago that she was there to go to the pool, and later told a receptionist she was there for a United Nations event that prosecutors argued she knew had been cancelled, according to court documents. "Due to a potential language barrier issue," staff believed she was related to a club member and let her in, the documents said. But a receptionist who knew the event was off flagged her to agents.
"Due to a potential language barrier issue," staff believed she was related to a club member and let her in, the documents said. Secret Service agents questioned Zhang after she was apprehended in the resort's lobby. No swimming apparel was found on her person, according to court documents.
Zhang told agents she had been instructed by a friend, identified only as "Charles", to travel from Shanghai, China, to Palm Beach to attend the purported United Nations event, but did not provide any more details. Prosecutors used text messages between Zhang and the event organiser to prove she knew the charity gala had been cancelled before she left China.
She said "Charles" had encouraged her to attempt to speak to a member of the president's family about Chinese-American economic relations, according to an affidavit. "She lied to everybody to get on that property," Assistant US Attorney Roland Garcia told jurors.
Despite the guilty verdict the trial did not establish why exactly she was at President Trump's resort. Despite the guilty verdict the trial did not establish why exactly she was there. She told agents after her arrest a friend in China had encouraged her to speak to a member of Trump's family about Chinese-US economic relations.
Mr Trump was in Palm Beach at the time of her arrest, though he had been staying at Mar-a-Lago that weekend. Mr Trump was staying at Mar-a-Lago that weekend but elsewhere at the time of the incident.
Prosecutors said among the electronics Zhang possessed were numerous USB drives and a device that could detect secret cameras. There has been little comment on Zhang's case in China. Hours before Zhang was found guilty, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said suggestions of connections between Zhang and the Chinese government were "laughable".
She initially told agents she did not want to leave the items at her hotel out of fear they would be stolen, but police later found around $8,000 (£6,500) in cash and more electronics in her hotel room. "The US has had too much suspicion lately," Ms Hua told a news conference, "Some Americans could become sci-fi writers now."