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

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

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

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

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

The instance has raised new concerns almost security at Mar-a-Lago, the president’s personal association at South Florida. Trump usually carries out officer commerce and spends time with his family at the so-called winter White House, which also operates although a commerce that hosts personal events. Congressional Democrats asked the FBI ought appraise the national-security risks at Mar-a-Lago following Zhang’s arrest.

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

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

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

In gymnasium Monday, Zhang entered at handcuffs and chains almost her waste, wearing a fleet gloomy prison-issued jump suit. at the application of the defense, the infer decided ought outline the surplus of the detention hearing above April 15 so that more news could exist gathered. Zhang’s arraignment will confess put the too day, the infer said.

In his questioning of the Secret Service agent, public defender Robert Adler revealed that Zhang had never direct claimed ought exist a member of Mar-a-Lago at bid ought earn access. The evidence also 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 also had a USB motivate that allegedly contained malware, which can disclose computers ought malicious software. except during the agent, Ivanovich, was unable above Monday ought mean what friendly of malware it was. He said another deputy site the machine at his computer and it presently starting installing something. The deputy shut down the engine ought obstruct a feasible infection by a software virus. The machine is still being analyzed, along with other electronics, Ivanovich said.

Innocent Explanations

Adler said there were innocent explanations although 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 at addition ought her valid passport, Adler said. She also showed entire the electronics she carried when entering the resort, including when she went along a metal detector, he said.