The Steady Drip: Stanford University Student Testifies to Congress That the CCP Attempted to Recruit Her (Connecting the Dots: Stanford University, China, FBI & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Stanford University Student Testifies to Congress That the CCP Attempted to Recruit Her (Connecting the Dots: Stanford University, China, FBI & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

The college junior said the FBI informed her that foreign adversaries are still actively monitoring her on campus and watching her family.

The Epoch Times

Aaron Gifford

3/26/2026|Updated: 3/26/2026

Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., on July 31, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/the-ccp-attempted-to-recruit-her-stanford-university-student-testifies-to-congress-6004240

When Elsa Johnson left her Minnesota home for Stanford University two years ago, the teenager figured she would be approached by campus clubs or student social organizations, not the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

But that’s just what happened, Johnson told the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on March 26 during a hearing on espionage and national security threats at U.S. universities.

Johnson, who graduated from a Chinese-language immersion school before college, majors in East Asian studies, with a focus on China. She is also the editor-in-chief of the Stanford Review, an independent right-leaning campus newspaper.

Following Johnson’s spring semester work as a research assistant at the Hoover Institution, a man who identified himself as “Charles Chen” contacted her via social media, noting that he had mutual followers and friends from Stanford.

He later asked her extensive questions about her background, offered to pay for a flight to China, and pressured her to move their conversation to WeChat, an app that she says is monitored by the CCP. Chen also commented in Mandarin on one of Johnson’s posts on Instagram, asking her to delete screenshots she had taken of their conversation. Johnson said she did not know how Chen knew she had those screenshots.

The incidents worsened after Johnson published articles about that experience. She received threatening calls. In one instance, someone speaking Mandarin referenced her mother. In another, just this week, the caller asked her “if [she] had finished dinner.”

Johnson said the Hoover Institution put her in touch with the FBI. Last semester, the federal agency informed her that she is being actively monitored on campus by agents of the CCP and that her family is also being watched. However, she testified, university leaders haven’t done enough to address these concerns.

“I was a freshman navigating a foreign intelligence operation with no institutional support,” she said, noting that Chen had approached at least 10 female college students since 2020.

“The university has not established a reporting mechanism for transnational repression. It has not provided resources for students targeted by foreign governments. Stanford has the resources to build these systems. The question is whether the university has the will.”

Johnson also told the committee that she believes that Stanford’s Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, which receives $64,000 per year from the university for social activities such as Lunar New Year celebrations, engages in “peer monitoring” activities in accordance with a CCP federal law and informs the regime if their fellow citizens are engaging in questionable activities.

The Epoch Times reached out to Stanford’s Association of Chinese Students and Scholars for comment.

These types of Chinese Students and Scholars Associations (CSSAs) exist on many U.S. college and university campuses. Their purpose is to advance Beijing’s interests, former club leaders and experts previously told The Epoch Times. By weaponizing students, they said, the Chinese regime gains a foothold in U.S. academia, stifles alternative voices, amplifies its own, and perpetuates a climate of fear.

Leaders from the University of Michigan and the University of Florida testified that they have stepped up measures to scrutinize foreign influence on campus research in accordance with a new policy established by U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Education.

Domenico Grasso, interim president of the University of Michigan, said he is working with federal agencies to conduct more thorough vetting of foreign students, which make up about 8,000 of the school’s 73,000 enrollees. He also said Chinese donors only contributed about $86 million of the $1 billion in foreign donations to the university.

Democrats mostly called on their one witness, Melissa Emerrey-Arras of the Government Accountability Office, to testify about federal staff reductions in student loan operations and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Their Republican peers criticized them for holding an “alternative hearing” and accused them of not taking the matter at hand more seriously.

Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah) called for stronger measures in arresting and prosecuting foreign adversaries on campus, as well as anyone who helps them.

“It’s time to make the word ‘traitor’ fearful again,” he said, and then he commended Johnson for her testimony.

“This is what old school American loyalty and courage looks like.”

Stanford also contacted the FBI after learning of Johnson’s concerns, and its Research Security Office contacted her directly, Angie Davis, a university spokeswoman, said in an email response to The Epoch Times.

A tipline for reporting potential issues with foreign influence has been established on campus, she said.

“We take seriously our responsibility to be a resource for any student who faces intimidation or coercion by a foreign government,” Davis said. “As these threats evolve, we assess and evaluate our practices to ensure they are responsive to the current environment.”

Connecting the Dots:
Victoria P. Sant was a trustee at Stanford University and is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Robert M. Bass was a trustee at Stanford University and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Pete Higgins was a trustee at Stanford University and is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Steven A. Denning is a trustee at Stanford University and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Mark B. McClellan was an associate professor at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Donald Kennedy was a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the president of Stanford University.

James C. Gaither is the chairman for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and was chairman for Stanford University.

Jon M. Huntsman Jr. is a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and was an ambassador to China for the Barack Obama administration.

J. Stapleton Roy is a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and was a U.S. ambassador for China.

James F. Collins is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and was a U.S. ambassador for Russia.

Jamie S. Gorelick was a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), a deputy attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice, is Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner’s attorney and a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Robert S. Mueller III was a director at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, investigating interference with Russia in the 2016 U.S. election, special counsel investigating Russian ties in the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign, a special counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice, James Quarles III is assisting him in the Russia probe, Jeannie Rhee is assisting him in the Russia collusion probe and Aaron Zebley is assisting him in the Russia probe.

James Quarles III was assisting Robert S. Mueller III in the Russia probe and a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

Jeannie Rhee was assisting Robert S. Mueller III in the Russia collusion probe, a deputy assistant attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice and a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

Aaron Zebley was assisting Robert S. Mueller III in the Russia probe and a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

Cameron F. Kerry was an associate at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, is John F. Kerry’s brother, a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Victoria P. Sant is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was a trustee at Stanford University.

Robert M. Bass was a trustee at Stanford University and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Pete Higgins was a trustee at Stanford University and is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Steven A. Denning is a trustee at Stanford University and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Michael H. Jordan was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the division chairman & CEO for PepsiCo, Inc.

Larry D. Thompson is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the EVP of governmental affairs, general counsel & secretary for PepsiCo, Inc.

Kimberly Cheatle served as Senior Director in Global Security at PepsiCo. and was the 27^th director for the U.S. Secret Service. (President Trump was shot in Butler under her leadership).

PepsiCo, Inc. was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Coca-Cola Company was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is and the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a supporter for the Center for American Progress

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Center for American Progress, the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Donald F. McHenry is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a director at the Coca-Cola Company.

James D. Robinson III is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a director at the Coca-Cola Company.

Howard G. Buffett is a director at the Coca-Cola Company and Warren E. Buffett’s son.

Warren E. Buffett is a director at the Coca-Cola Company, Howard G. Buffett’s father and an adviser for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank),

Sam Nunn is a director at the Coca-Cola Company and the co-chairman & CEO for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a friend of Michael Douglas and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank)

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).
Donald Kennedy was a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the president of Stanford University.

James C. Gaither is the chairman for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and was chairman for Stanford University.

Jon M. Huntsman Jr. is a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and was an ambassador to China for the Barack Obama administration.

J. Stapleton Roy is a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and was a U.S. ambassador for China.

James F. Collins is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and was a U.S. ambassador for Russia.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

James Quarles III was assisting Robert S. Mueller III in the Russia probe and a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

Aaron Zebley was assisting Robert S. Mueller III in the Russia probe and a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Victoria P. Sant is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was a trustee at Stanford University.

Robert M. Bass was a trustee at Stanford University and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Pete Higgins was a trustee at Stanford University and is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Steven A. Denning is a trustee at Stanford University and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Condoleezza Rice is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a political science professor for Stanford University.

Henry A. Kissinger was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), a friend of Brent Scowcroft and a trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank).

Brent Scowcroft was a friend of Henry A. Kissinger and a trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank).

Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) was a funder for China.

Maurice R. Greenberg is a trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank), a director at the National Committee on United States-China Relations, an honorary chairman for the United States-China Policy Foundation and a director at the U.S.-China Business Council.

James R. Schlesinger is a trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) and a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Brent Scowcroft is a trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) and the interim chairman; chair, international advisory board at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Richard R. Burt was a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Frank C. Carlucci was a counselor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) and is an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Robert E. Hunter was a VP for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

James L. Jones Jr. was a trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Zalmay Khalilzad was a counselor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Joseph E. Robert Jr. was a trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank), and a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

John W. Warner was a counselor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) and is an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Dov S. Zakheim was a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) and is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman of the Open Society Foundations.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Mark Cancian is a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) and a retired U.S. Marine Corps. Colonel.

Arnold L. Punaro was a major general for the U.S. Marine Corps and is an advisory board member for the Center for a New American Security.

John R. Allen was a general for the U.S. Marine Corps and is a director at the Center for a New American Security.

Gregory S. Newbold was a lieutenant general for the U.S. Marine Corps and a director at the Center for a New American Security.

U.S. Marine Corps was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

Albright Group LLC was a contributor for the Center for a New American Security.

Madeleine K. Albright was the founder of the Albright Group LLC, a director at the Center for a New American Security and an honorary director for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Thomas R. Pickering is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was the chairman of review board that investigated the 2012 attack on U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya in 2013.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Resources: Past Research

How Bad Is the Indoctrination in our Colleges? (Past Research on Stanford University)

Monday, May 19, 2014

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/05/how-bad-is-indoctrination-in-our.html

Ed Griffin’s interview with Norman Dodd in 1982 Found on Youtube (Connecting the Dots: The Federal Reserve Control & The Carnegie/Soros Network) (Past Research on the Carnegie/Soros Network)

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2026/03/ed-griffins-interview-with-norman-dodd.html

Federal Judge Rejects Capital One’s $425 Million Settlement With Depositors (Connecting the Dots: Letitia James Attorney General of New York, Committee on Economic Development, Capital One Financial Corporation, The New York Stock Exchange, Russia, Anwar Sadat, The Muslim Brotherhood & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on China & Russia)

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/11/federal-judge-rejects-capital-ones-425.html

Chinese Crash Crushes Stock Market as Obama Imitates Chinese Economy (Past Research on China)

Monday, August 24, 2015

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2015/08/chinese-crash-crushes-stock-market-as.html

Senator Elissa Slotkin (Connecting the Dots: Senator Elissa Slotkin, Letitia James & The Carnegie/Soros Network) (Past Research on Newton Minow & the Carnegie Corporation of New York)

Saturday, March 21, 2026

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2026/03/senator-elissa-slotkin-connecting-dots.html

Trump shocker! Who is Elaine Chao? (Past Research on China, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) & Henry Kissinger)

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2016/11/trump-shocker-who-is-elaine-chao.html

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (Past Research on the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS))

Monday, January 20, 2014

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/01/center-for-strategic-and-international.html

Hegseth's Moves to Slash Generals Stokes Experts' Concerns (Connecting the Dots: All Branches of the Military, The Center for a New American Security, The Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank), The Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), Benghazi Investigator & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the Center for Strategic and International Studies (think tank) & Retired U.S. Marine Corps. Col. Mark Cancian)

Saturday, May 10, 2025

https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2025/05/hegseths-moves-to-slash-generals-stokes.html