A Chinese national has been arrested after repeatedly trying to break into former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, police said.
According to the Palm Beach Post, Zhijie Li, 38, of El Monte, California, claimed to be in possession of documents implicating his home country’s government in the assassination attempt that took place at a rally for President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
Suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was shot dead by a Secret Service agent after a bullet struck President Trump in the ear, narrowly missing his skull, struck three supporters and killed former Buffalo Township Fire Chief Corey Comperatore.
In the wake of the assassination attempt, the Secret Service has stepped up security at Trump’s residence and other properties, and the Palm Beach Post reported that the incident has prompted the agency to close South Ocean Boulevard, adjacent to Mar-a-Lago, starting July 20.
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A man who claimed to have information about the recent assassination attempt on President Trump is now behind bars after multiple attempts to break into Mar-a-Lago, according to Palm Beach police. (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office/(Charles Traynor Jr./Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images/File)
According to an arrest report obtained by The Palm Beach Post, Lee’s first of several attempts to get into Mar-a-Lago occurred the previous evening, July 19. Lee arrived at the front door of the mansion on South Ocean Boulevard in a gray Toyota Prius and reportedly told Secret Service agents he had documents implicating China in the assassination attempt.
However, Trump was not at home at the time, but was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, attending the Republican National Convention.
Investigators then reportedly told Lee he was trespassing and not allowed on the property, and Palm Beach police issued him a written warning. Police also told Lee he was not allowed to return to Mar-a-Lago and would be arrested if he did.
According to the arrest report, Lee’s next visit to Palm Beach was on July 22, when city security camera footage showed him driving east on the Royal Park Bridge and then west again, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
Trump was at Mar-a-Lago that day after returning from Wisconsin.
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Former US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort is pictured in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 8, 2021. REUTERS/Marco Bello (Reuters)
According to the report, Lee was then seen again on July 30, driving to a Mar-a-Lago security checkpoint. Police approached Lee when he was blocking a lane, and during the stop, officers noticed Lee’s GPS system had a Mar-a-Lago address, according to the arrest report.
Lee was released and left town, but reportedly returned less than an hour later when his car was found south of Mar-a-Lago on South Ocean Boulevard. According to the Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach police and Secret Service agents stopped Lee again and told him not to return to Mar-a-Lago.
However, police said Lee continued to try to enter the premises.
Officers found Lee at an intersection north of Mar-a-Lago and arrested him.
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Secret Service agents and security guards stand guard at Mar-a-Lago, the vacation home of former U.S. President Donald Trump, in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 31, 2023. (REUTERS/Ricardo Alduengo)
Trump was not at home when Lee was arrested, but a new notice from the Federal Aviation Administration says the former president is expected to return home this weekend.
Temporary Flight Restrictions Scheduled to come into effect According to a notice posted Thursday, the event will take place from 7:45 p.m. Saturday until 10:45 p.m. Aug. 9 for a “VIP move” in the area centered around Mar-a-Lago.
The Palm Beach Post reported that Li is not the first Chinese national to be charged in connection with plotting to break into Mar-a-Lago. A 32-year-old Chinese woman was arrested in 2019. After the Secret Service said she lied to get into the club and then claimed she wanted to speak with President Trump about China-U.S. economic ties.
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According to court records, Mr Lee used a Chinese interpreter and the judge issued a restraining order against him having any contact with Mr Trump, his campaign associates or his Mar-a-Lago property.
Ji’s next court appearance is on Monday, August 5.
Fox News’ Heather Lacey contributed to this report.
