On Monday, Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, who was convicted of accepting bribery payments from a Chinese intelligence officer in exchange for classified military information, learned his sentence — and it wasn’t much.
“Mr. Zhao betrayed his solemn oath to defend his country and endangered those who serve in the U.S. military,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today, he is being held to account for those crimes. The Justice Department is committed to combatting the Chinese government’s efforts to undermine our nation’s security and holding accountable those who violate our laws as part of those efforts.”
But critics took issue with his sentence – just 27 months in prison and a fine of $5,500 – what they say is a slap on the wrist. Others compared it to how Jan. 6 defendants have been…
