Inside China Today

Chinese Consul General could be expelled from U.S. for instigating attacks on Falun Gong practitioners

Chinese Consul General Peng Keyu could be expelled from the U.S. if allegations that he encouraged attacks against Falun Gong practitioners are found to be true, according to New York attorney Robert Gottlieb in an Epoch Times report.

During an interview in his office near Wall Street, Gottlieb explained the legalities surrounding the possible expulsion of the consul general, as well as charges that others involved could face. Gottlieb’s law office has been following the case of the Flushing attacks.

Shortly after the assault against Falun Gong practitioners had begun in Flushing on May 17, an investigative call was made to the office of Chinese Consul General Peng Keyu by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG).

During the call, Peng was recorded admitting that he had met with and encouraged those who had attacked the Falun Gong practitioners. “It’s clear that the consul general from China, here in New York, is a part of a group that is conspiring to intentionally assault Falun Gong adherents,” said Gottlieb. “It’s very clear that the consul general is an active participant in inciting these criminal acts.”

According to Gottlieb, Peng could be expelled from the United States if it is found that he had encouraged the attackers, regardless of diplomatic immunity. “Immunity, nevertheless, does not give foreign nationals the right, the power, the protection against conspiring with individuals, to violate the civil rights of people here in the United States as this individual, the consul general, clearly has done,” said Gottlieb. “It does not give them the protection from being thrown out of this country.”

“This isn’t just speculation. If that in fact can be shown, the State Department, the United States, would be absolutely entitled to move to expel that particular diplomat,” said Gottlieb.

According to Gottlieb, if Peng is found guilty, others who had conspired with him could also be put on trial.

Some of the alleged attackers could face hate crime charges. According to Gottlieb, by U.S. law, many of the attacks against Falun Gong in recent months are, by definition, hate crimes. “If your victim is intentionally selected in whole or in part because of their race, color, gender, religion, religious practice, that then is an essential element of a hate crime,” said Gottlieb.