Michigan Student fled to China after illegal vote charge, FBI says

5 days ago 28

A Chinese nationalist charged with voting illegally astatine the University of Michigan has fled the U.S., according to a transgression ailment filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that was unsealed connected Friday.

Haoxiang Gao was attending the Ann Arbor-based assemblage successful October 2024 and lived connected campus, authorities said.

Safety officials with the schoolhouse spoke with Gao connected Oct. 28 aft proceeding reports that a pupil had unlawfully formed a ballot successful the 2024 wide election, according to the precocious unsealed tribunal documents. CBS Detroit antecedently reported on the lawsuit but authorities didn't place Gao astatine the time.

Gao admitted during the speech with the schoolhouse that helium registered to ballot and did formed a ballot astatine a polling determination connected field connected Oct. 27. He was charged by the authorities connected Oct. 30 with 1 number each of unauthorized elector attempting to ballot and making a mendacious affidavit for the intent of securing elector registration, tribunal records show.

During Gao's arraignment, a justice ordered him to surrender his Chinese passport and not to permission Michigan, according to the transgression complaint. The FBI said successful the filing that Gao's passport was successful the possession of schoolhouse information officials during the tribunal hearing.

CBS News Detroit has reached retired to the assemblage for comment.

Gao has been federally charged with formation to debar prosecution, though the U.S. does not person an extradition pact with China. According to prosecutors, helium boarded a Delta formation from Detroit International Airport to Shanghai, China, connected Jan. 19 utilizing a Chinese passport successful his name.

A warrant for Gao was besides issued aft helium missed tribunal hearings connected March 6 and April 24.

The lawsuit is among very fewer instances of noncitizens voting in national elections successful modern history, studies and investigations person found. Analysis by the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice recovered 30 cases of noncitizens suspected of voting successful the 2024 wide predetermination reported by predetermination officials retired of 23.5 cardinal votes formed successful the 42 jurisdictions reviewed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.