Beijing-linked businessman accused of undermining US gave thousands to Senate Dem contenders

WASHINGTON — A manufacturing magnate suspected of helping the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wage economic war on the US has donated thousands of dollars to Democratic Senate candidates, campaign finance records reveal.Pin Ni, the president of Illinois-based Wanxiang America Corporation, gave $7,000 to the campaigns of Rep.Chris Pappas (D-NH), Minnesota Lt.

Gov.Peggy Flanagan, Sen.

John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and former North Carolina Gov.Roy Cooper.

While federal law limits individual donations to $3,500 per campaign, Pin gave to each of the four Democrats’ primary and general election runs for a total of $28,000 in contributions.So far this cycle, Pin has donated $63,000 to sitting senators and candidates, mainly to Democrats — including a pair of unsuccessful Senate contenders: Maine Gov.Janet Mills and Rep.

Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.).He also donated $7,000 each to the Democratic Senate nominee from the Land of Lincoln, Lt.

Gov.Juliana Stratton, as well as retiring Sen.

Steve Daines (R-Mont.)The most recent donation from Pin, made Aug.10, went to Pappas — who is favored to keep the seat held by the retiring Sen.

Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in Democratic hands.Pappas currently has a two-percentage point lead over his likely Republican opponent, former Sen.

John Sununu, in the latest RealClearPolitics polling average.Wanxiang America is a subsidiary of Wanxiang Group Corporation, which is based in the Chinese city of Hangzhou and is the Asian power’s largest manufacturer of auto parts.Lu Guanqiu, who founded Wanxiang in 1969, was posthumously recognized by the CCP as an outstanding member in 2021.After Lu’s death in 2017, control of Wanxiang passed to his son, Lu Weiding, and his son-in-law, Pin, who founded Wanxiang America in 1994.

In 2014, Wanxiang America bought the assets of bankrupt electric car maker Fisker Automotive for $149.2 million.A year earlier, the company snapped up battery maker A123 Systems for $257 million, despite concerns rai...