President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to Michael McMahon, a former New York police sergeant who faced conviction for his involvement in a notable case linked to China’s efforts to intimidate a former government official living in the United States. The pardon was announced on Friday amid discussions surrounding McMahon’s alleged mischaracterization as an illegal foreign agent.
In the spring, McMahon was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his participation in what a federal judge termed “a campaign of transnational repression,” aimed at a former Chinese city official named Xu Jin. McMahon maintained that he was unaware of the true nature of the job he accepted. He believed he was working for a private Chinese construction company, rather than the government, and claimed he was “unwittingly used” in the case.
A White House official, who wished to remain anonymous, emphasized McMahon’s assertion of being misled, along with his previously commendable career with the NYPD before an injury ended his service in 2001. His lawyer, Lawrence Lustberg, described the pardon as a correction to an “horrible injustice”, asserting that McMahon had been victimized by the Chinese government rather than being the perpetrator.
McMahon’s conviction included charges of stalking and acting as an illegal foreign agent. After serving some time, he transitioned to a halfway house earlier this year and has now returned to his New Jersey home. Support for McMahon’s innocence voiced by U.S. Representatives Mike Lawler and Pete Sessions contributed to the discussion surrounding the case. Lawler praised the pardon, asserting that McMahon should never have faced prosecution.
In connection to the broader context of the case, McMahon was part of a trial related to “Operation Fox Hunt,” which U.S. authorities view as a Chinese initiative aimed at harassing dissidents abroad. Beijing, on the other hand, claims the operation seeks to repatriate fugitives and denies any threats involved.
The prosecution presented evidence that Xu Jin faced an extensive pressure campaign, which included targeted communications designed to induce his return to China, despite there being no legal basis for extradition due to the absence of a treaty between the U.S. and China.
McMahon’s story underscores the complexities involved in international law and the repercussions of global diplomatic tensions affecting individuals. The pardon, while seen as a vindication for McMahon, also brings to light ongoing concerns about the treatment of dissidents and the lengths to which foreign governments may go to exert influence on individuals abroad.