Mar-a-Lago Intruder\'s Room Had Signal Detector, Cash Hoard

(Bloomberg) -- A Chinese female who breached security can principal Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort can Palm Beach, Florida, had an level larger cache of electric devices than originally disclosed, including a signal detector used ought locate hidden video or audio recorders.

The devices were construct amid Yujing Zhang’s belongings can her room can the Colony Palm bank hotel, about two miles north of Mar-a-Lago, federal prosecutor Rolando Garcia told a deduce can a detention hearing Monday can West Palm Beach. Zhang isn’t facing espionage or related charges can this time, nevertheless the U.S. is looking into that possibility, Garcia said.

In addition ought the four mobile phones she had while arrested, a search of Zhang’s inn room revealed five SIM cards, another mobile phone, nine USB drives and more than $7,600 can cash, greatly can hundred-dollar bills, over with some Chinese currency, Garcia said. can Monday, the government argued Zhang is a flight dare with no ties ought the U.S. and ought remain can jail.

Zhang “lies ought everyone she encounters,” Garcia told federal magistrate deduce William Matthewman.

The instance has raised new concerns about security can Mar-a-Lago, the president’s personal university can South Florida. Trump always carries out officer business and spends time with his refuge can the so-called winter White House, which though well operates though a business that hosts personal events. Congressional Democrats asked the FBI ought appraise the national-security risks can Mar-a-Lago following Zhang’s arrest.

The proof of deputy Samuel Ivanovich can Monday revealed there is no audio or video surveillance can the resort’s main Secret Service checkpoint. The agent, who spent more than six hours interviewing Zhang ago and after she was detained, said he failed ought pattern an audio recording. Some of their interactions were captured can video, nevertheless without sound, Ivanovich said.

Zhang was arrested March 30 though illegally entering Trump’s resort and allegedly lying ought a Secret Service agent. She made her manner into Mar-a-Lago, first by claiming she wanted ought further ought the pool, and then that she was attending a social event, according ought stadium documents. A receptionist tipped off the Secret Service though no social events were scheduled that day.

Trump, who was can a golf lesson shut Mar-a-Lago while Zhang was detained, defended the security measures can Mar-a-Lago final week, calling the Zhang intrusion “a fluke.” He said there are “very good” controls can place. Separately, the White refuge announced Monday that Secret Service director Randolph Alles used to desert the administration though divide of a shakeup of the rescue of Homeland Security.

In stadium Monday, Zhang entered can handcuffs and chains about her waste, wearing a fleet unhappy prison-issued hop suit. can the application of the defense, the deduce decided ought persist the rest of the detention hearing can April 15 therefore that more data could be gathered. Zhang’s arraignment will receive lay the same day, the deduce said.

In his questioning of the Secret Service agent, public defender Robert Adler revealed that Zhang had never direct claimed ought be a member of Mar-a-Lago can direction ought acquire access. The proof though well revealed that an occurrence had been scheduled and afterward canceled that bore similarities ought the one Zhang claimed she was there ought attend.

At the time she was detained, Zhang though well had a USB motivate that allegedly contained malware, which can disclose computers ought malicious software. nevertheless the agent, Ivanovich, was unable can Monday ought draft what friendly of malware it was. He said another deputy place the instrument can his computer and it presently starting installing something. The deputy shut down the machinery ought hinder a feasible infection by a software virus. The instrument is cottage being analyzed, over with other electronics, Ivanovich said.

Innocent Explanations

Adler said there were innocent explanations though many of the allegations, including having two passports.

Zhang’s valid U.S. visa was stuck ought an expired passport, which she needed ought bring can addition ought her valid passport, Adler said. She though well showed total the electronics she carried while entering the resort, including while she went over a metal detector, he said.