A potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, finds himself entangled in a deeply troubling national security scandal. A Fox News Digital investigation has unearthed explosive details about his "longtime ally" and former senior advisor on foreign trade, Henry Yin, revealing extensive and unsettling ties to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials and influence operations – even reaching into the shadow of the infamous "Fang Fang" spy saga.
Yin, a California businessman and political operative, has been lauded by Khanna for his "leadership" and called one of his "good friends" on Facebook. Yet, his past paints a starkly different picture: he built a fortune selling used computer equipment to China and spent decades as a key facilitator for Beijing's economic penetration into California. His consulting firm, USA-China-Link, openly specialized in helping Chinese corporate clients tied to CCP officials gain a foothold in the U.S.
More alarmingly, Yin has allegedly attended at least ten events hosted by United Front groups, including the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC), according to China expert Jackie Deal. These organizations are well-documented arms of the CCP's global influence machine, actively working to sway U.S. institutions and undermine American interests.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., joins fellow Democrats during a press conference on border negotiations as a deadline to avert a partial government shutdown approaches at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024.
For a Democrat like Khanna, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee and the House Select Committee on the CCP, such a connection is not merely questionable – it's an undeniable threat to national security. One businessman, praising Yin in a 2011 profile, noted, "There’s a lot more government involvement in China, and you need relationships with local government officials."
Despite these clear red flags, Khanna consistently championed Yin. In September 2019, he announced Yin would "serve as my Senior Advisor on Foreign Trade and Economic Development," adding, "I was particularly touched that Henry and the group had a birthday cake for me. It was wonderful celebrating with them!" A few months later, Khanna again publicly thanked Yin for his "leadership!" and even attended an event sponsored by Yin's firm, discussing topics like China investments and technology. This raises serious questions about Khanna's judgment and whether he prioritized political connections over national security.
Chinese President Xi Jinping reviews the honor guard during the welcome ceremony for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Great Hall of the People on May 31, 2024, in Beijing, China.
Perhaps the most disturbing revelation is a 2013 photo that appears to show Yin alongside Christine "Fang Fang" Fang – the suspected Chinese spy at the heart of the scandal involving disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell, another California Democrat. While Fox News Digital could not confirm if a redacted FBI report referencing a "prominent businessman in the Bay Area" who introduced Swalwell to Fang was Yin, Yin himself was previously quoted by Axios saying Fang was "very active" with the APAPA Bay Area chapter and remembered seeing her at several events.
The proximity of a potential presidential hopeful's "good friend" to an identified Chinese operative is a chilling reminder of Beijing's pervasive efforts to infiltrate American politics.
In this photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023 and released by the Office of the Governor of California, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Khanna's office has attempted to distance itself, claiming Yin "has never been employed by Rep. Khanna" and "he doesn’t serve in any role in his office or campaign." Yet, Khanna himself proudly shared photos with Yin at a political action committee meeting as recently as February 2026, referring to him as one of his "good friends" and saying he was "honored to be back in the district, hearing directly from Chinese American community leaders." Furthermore, an APAPA press release from January 2022 explicitly stated Yin "has served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Representative Ro Khanna." The contradictory narratives only deepen the suspicion surrounding these connections.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) sits at a town hall event on February 20, 2026, in Stanford, California. The town hall focused on taxing billionaires and the future of AI.
When pressed on the discrepancies, an APAPA spokesperson claimed "no knowledge" of Yin serving as an advisor to Khanna and cited a review process to remove "outdated or inaccurate content" – a convenient explanation for inconvenient truths. As Michael Lucci, CEO of State Armor, warned, "Public officials should strongly scrutinize any APAPA efforts that align with CCP objectives."
Yin's influence extends beyond Khanna, as he recently accompanied California Governor Gavin Newsom on a late 2023 delegation to China, where Newsom met with top CCP officials, including President Xi Jinping. This pattern reveals a disturbing willingness within California's Democratic establishment to engage with figures deeply intertwined with a hostile foreign power, seemingly oblivious or indifferent to the profound national security implications.
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California speaks with Fox News Digital ahead of a rally that he organized which included Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, in Bar Harbor, Maine on June 5, 2026.
This exposé of Henry Yin's deep CCP ties and his close relationship with a rising Democratic star like Ro Khanna serves as a stark warning. It underscores the insidious nature of Beijing's influence operations and the imperative for American leaders to unequivocally prioritize national security over political convenience or questionable foreign entanglements. The American people deserve representatives whose loyalty is solely to the United States, not to "good friends" with deep ties to Communist China.
