WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. _ A wealthy Chinese woman who is accused of lying to get into Mar-a-Lago while President Donald Trump was in town had her visa revoked by a U.S. magistrate during a hearing on Monday.
The move could keep Yujing Zhang in U.S. government custody even if she is granted bond.
Zhang, 32, is being held on charges of lying to a federal agent and entering a restricted building. If convicted, Zhang faces a maximum five-year prison sentence.
Zhang, who has said she works as a consultant to an investment company in Shanghai and is trying to start her own firm, was arrested March 30 after U.S. Secret Service agents said she was allowed to pass through a security checkpoint outside the club because she claimed she was going to use the pool. A club manager believed she was related to a club member who shared the same last name.
However, when Zhang arrived at the club, she told the receptionist she had come to the private club to attend a United National Chinese American Association event later in the evening. Knowing there was no such event planned, the receptionist summoned federal agents.
In an interview, Zhang said a man she knew only as Charles told her to travel from Shanghai to Palm Beach. The man told her she could attend the "United Nations Friendship Event" and possibly get the chance to talk to a member of Trump's family about economic relations between the U.S. and China.
Noting that Zhang had changed her story, agents arrested her.
But, the head of a Palm Beach Gardens-based children's charity, said an event had been scheduled at Mar-a-Lago on March 30.
Terry Bomar, who heads the nonprofit Young Adventurers, said the event was canceled after he discovered it had been hijacked by Cindy Yang, the former owner of a Jupiter day spa where New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft allegedly solicited prostitution.
Yang, who lives in Wellington, operates a Chinese-language website where she pedals access to Trump and other top Republicans. A flyer on Yang's website advertised a March 30 event at Mar-a-Lago. It featured a picture of the private club and one of Trump's sister, Elizabeth Trump-Grau.
Trump-Grau was going to be the guest of honor at the fundraiser for Young Adventurers, Bomar said.
It's possible that Zhang came to Mar-a-Lago for the gala and hadn't heard it was canceled, Bomar said.
When she was arrested, Zhang showed agents an invitation she had received to what she described as the United Nations event. Agents said they couldn't read it because it was written in Chinese.
Zhang's arrest has raised questions about the Secret Service agency's ability to protect the president and his family at Mar-a-Lago. In an emailed statement, agency officials acknowledged that they have no control over whether members are allowed in the exclusive club. But, they said, they control who gets access to Trump and his family.
