Jim Banks questions whether Walz violated his security clearance in trips to China

House Chair of the Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee Jim Banks on Tuesday sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, raising concerns on whether Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz's violated his security clearance when traveling overseas.

Walz, who was recently selected to be Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate, said he made roughly 30 trips to China between 1989 and 2005, some of which occurred while he was in the National Guard. A service member with a security clearance is required to report foreign travel to the military. 

Banks claimed Walz would have had a security clearance as a senior guardsman, and questioned the “risks of hostile foreign intelligence activity” that the governor faced in China.

“Any individual traveling dozens of times to an adversary nation in a personal capacity while having access to classified information poses an obvious security risk,” Banks told the New York Post. “I am therefore concerned that Governor Walz may have failed to comply with foreign travel reporting requirements during these trips to China, despite his duty as a security clearance holder to protect our national security."

Banks said he still had questions about Walz's military service, especially as it relates to the global powerhouse, and pressed the military on whether the trips were accurately conveyed to the branch at the time.

“How did a senior enlisted guardsman, presumably with a Secret security clearance, travel to China regularly on unofficial business without raising red flags?" Banks asked in a news release. "Did Walz accurately report the dozens of these trips to his superiors, as is required for anyone with access to classified information, or did he keep them in the dark? These are basic questions with grave national security consequences, and I am urging Secretary Austin to provide the public with documents that could help explain Governor Walz’s apparent disregard for our national security.”

Walz took his first trip to China in 1989, when he worked as an American history and English instructor for the WorldTeach program in Foshan in southern China. He took many trips later with his wife and family, most of which happened while he was in the U.S. military, including visiting China on his honeymoon. His wedding date even coincided with the fifth anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

"In addition to his regular trips, Governor Walz has also shown a concerning affinity for China and a willingness to downplay and overlook the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party," the congressman wrote. "The [Chinese Communist Party] can use this optimism to exploit naïve foreign visitors, particularly visitors who are military service members."

Banks demanded information from Austin concerning Walz's time in the military by Aug. 20, including what level of security clearance he held, how long he had the clearance, how many trips he took to China while in the military, and whether he complied with the branch's reporting requirements.