A Chinese national was charged this week with trespassing on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, after he allegedly tried multiple times to get into the property.
The suspect, Zijie Li, 38, of El Monte, California, alleged that he had documents proving the Chinese government played a role in the assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania.
The former president was wounded in the shooting, which federal law enforcement claim was committed by a lone gunman. Two others were critically wounded, and one person was killed along with the suspected shooter. The FBI and Secret Service have not given any indication that a foreign government played a role in the shooting.
Li has pleaded not guilty to the trespassing charge after an incident Wednesday, according to the Palm Beach Post. The arrest occurred after the Secret Service increased security around the resort, because of the shooting, but it was not the first time Li attempted to reach the resort.
Li first attempted to get onto Mar-a-Lago on July 19, the outlet reported. He pulled up to the resort's gates in a gray Prius at 8 p.m. and wanted to see the former president to discuss the documents. But Trump was not home, due to the Republican convention. Li was told he was trespassing, and given a written warning about not returning to the resort.
The suspect was then spotted in Palm Beach again on July 22, where he drove over the Royal Park Bridge twice. Trump was at his resort at the time, but it is not clear if Li tried to get further than that. He returned again on July 30, and allegedly drove toward a security checkpoint for Mar-a-Lago, but he was approached by security when he blocked a lane.
A Palm Beach police officer said that during the July 30 stop, the driver's GPS destination was Mar-a-Lago. Li was released and drove away from the area, but returned later in the evening. He was again stopped by police and Secret Service, who told him not to come back. He kept trying to return again and was eventually arrested that afternoon.
Trump is not currently at his Mar-a-Lago resort, and was not on site at the time of the arrest, but he is expected to return to Palm Beach this weekend.
The city and local police have not made any public comments on Li's arrest.
