Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Guo Wengui
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Guo Wengui.
Guo Wengui, also known as Miles Guo, is a self-exiled Chinese billionaire businessman, political activist, and convicted fraudster. Once among China's wealthiest, he fled to the United States in late 2014 amidst accusations of corruption and various other crimes by Chinese authorities. Guo claims these charges are politically motivated retribution from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He is an associate of Steve Bannon and a member of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.
2006: Delivery of Deputy Mayor's Sex Tape
In 2006, Guo Wengui delivered a Beijing deputy mayor's sex tape to the police, leading to the deputy mayor's imprisonment and allowing Guo to build the Pangu Plaza.
2014: Guo Flees to the United States
In late 2014, Guo Wengui fled to the United States after learning he was going to be arrested under allegations of bribery, kidnapping, money laundering, fraud and rape. He claimed the charges were politically motivated.
2015: Reported Ownership of Zenith Holdings
In 2015, Chinese media reported that Zenith Holdings was actually owned by Guo Wengui, with Li Lin and Jiang Yuehua as his proxies.
2015: Move to the United States and Caixin Media Report
In 2015, Guo Wengui moved to the United States. Also in 2015, Caixin media released a lengthy investigative report detailing his political connections, business dealings, and tactics against rivals.
2016: Fined by China Securities Regulatory Commission
In 2016, Beijing Zenith Holdings, along with PKU Healthcare and PKU Resources Group Holdings, was fined by the China Securities Regulatory Commission.
January 23, 2017: Media Interviews and Corruption Accusations
Since January 23, 2017, Guo Wengui accepted multiple interviews with media such as Mingjing, Voice of America (VOA) and BBC. Guo also started a campaign of accusing Chinese officials of corruption through live monologues on his YouTube and Twitter channel.
April 2017: Pacific Alliance Lawsuit
In April 2017, Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund sued Guo Wengui in New York.
April 2017: Interpol Notice Issued
In April 2017, an Interpol notice was issued for Guo Wengui's arrest, requested by the Chinese government.
June 2017: Request for Deportation to China
By June 2017, the Chinese government sent U.S. President Donald Trump a letter, delivered by Steve Wynn, requesting for Guo Wengui to be deported to China.
June 2017: HNA Group Defamation Lawsuit
In June 2017, HNA Group sued Guo Wengui for defamation.
June 2017: Pangu Investment Staff Charged
In June 2017, staff of Pangu Investment, one of Guo Wengui's investment vehicles, were charged for scamming banks on loans, claiming they were under Guo's orders.
July 2017: Fan Bingbing Defamation Suit
In July 2017, Chinese actress Fan Bingbing sued Guo Wengui for defamation after he alleged she had slept with CCP leader Wang Qishan.
August 2017: HNA Group Defamation Lawsuit Filed
In August 2017, the Chinese conglomerate HNA Group filed a defamation lawsuit in New York against Guo Wengui.
October 5, 2017: Release of Alleged Confidential Document
On October 5, 2017, Guo Wengui made public in Washington a supposed "confidential document of the Chinese government".
2017: Guo Accuses Lin Chi-ling of Affair
In 2017, Guo Wengui accused Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling of having an affair with Chinese businessman Xiao Jianhua, which Lin dismissed as false.
2017: Freezing of Bank Accounts
In 2017, the Hong Kong Police Force froze bank accounts of Guo and other family members.
2017: Twitter Account Opened and Criticism of Chinese Establishment
In early 2017, Guo Wengui opened a Twitter account and began frequently criticizing individuals within the Chinese establishment.
August 2018: Guo Media Collaboration with Steve Bannon
In August 2018, Guo Media, associated with Guo Wengui, began a collaboration with Steve Bannon, paying him $1 million for consulting services. Bannon also has an office in Guo Media's headquarters.
August 2018: Assets of Guo Family Frozen
In August 2018, Hong Kong media reported that Hong Kong Police had frozen the assets of the Guo family, accused of money laundering.
October 2018: Zenith Holdings Fined for Irregularity
In October 2018, Zenith Holdings was fined CNY 60 billion for irregularity in acquiring the securities company.
December 2018: Settlement with Roger Stone
In December 2018, Roger Stone agreed to a settlement with Guo Wengui in which Stone would retract a false claim.
2018: Media Projects Launched with Bannon
In 2018, Guo Wengui launched two media projects with Steve Bannon, G News and GTV Media Group.
March 2019: HNA Attempts to Drop Lawsuit, Guo Refuses
In March 2019, HNA claimed that Guo's statements had no longer caught public attention and planned to drop their defamation suit, but Guo refused to withdraw from the case.
July 23, 2019: Strategic Vision Lawsuit and Defamation Lawsuit
On July 23, 2019, Strategic Vision US LLC sued Guo Wengui, claiming he was a spy for the CCP. This lawsuit was dismissed, and Guo filed a defamation lawsuit in response.
August 2019: Hong Kong Police Freeze Bank Accounts
In August 2019, it was revealed that the Hong Kong Police Force froze bank accounts of Guo and other family members in 2017.
2019: Attacked by Chinese Government-Controlled Accounts
In 2019, a study found that Chinese government controlled accounts on Twitter distributed more material attacking Guo Wengui than any other target.
June 3, 2020: Declaration of New Federal State of China
On June 3, 2020, Guo Wengui and Steve Bannon participated in an event aboard Guo's yacht, declaring a "New Federal State of China".
August 2020: Bannon's Arrest on Guo's Yacht
In August 2020, Steve Bannon was arrested by federal authorities on Guo Wengui's yacht on charges of stealing millions of dollars from the We Build the Wall non-profit organization.
December 2020: Guo's Twitter Account Suspended
As of December 2020, Guo Wengui's Twitter account, which had over half a million followers, was suspended after disseminating disinformation.
December 2020: Guo Accused of Arranging Picketing of Dissidents' Homes
In December 2020, Teng Biao accused Guo Wengui of arranging picketing of the homes of Teng and other dissidents, leading to conflicting theories about Guo's motives.
2020: Guo Promotes Li-Meng Yan and COVID-19 Misinformation
In 2020, Guo Wengui and Steve Bannon promoted Chinese virologist Li-Meng Yan, facilitating her media appearances and promoting her unsubstantiated claims about the origins of COVID-19.
2020: Apartment Seized in Bankruptcy Proceeding
In 2020, an apartment worth $55 million that an investment fund bought for Guo Wengui's use was seized in a bankruptcy proceeding related to the Pacific Alliance lawsuit.
2020: Misinformation Spread During Pandemic
In 2020, the media projects G News and GTV Media Group, launched by Guo Wengui and Steve Bannon, spread misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 2021: BBC News Reports on Guo and Bannon's Misinformation
In July 2021, BBC News reported on the collaboration between Steve Bannon and Guo Wengui in disseminating misinformation about election fraud, COVID-19 vaccines, and QAnon narratives.
2021: GTV Reaches SEC Settlement
In 2021, GTV Media Group reached a settlement with the SEC, agreeing to repay over $480 million to more than 5,000 investors and pay $35 million in fines.
2021: Singapore Foreign Interference Act
In 2021, Singapore enacted the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act, which was later used in July 2024 to block social media accounts affiliated with Guo Wengui.
February 2022: Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing
In February 2022, Guo Wengui filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, estimating his liabilities between $100 million and $500 million.
March 15, 2023: Guo Wengui Arrested in New York
On March 15, 2023, Guo Wengui was arrested in New York by federal authorities for conspiracy to defraud his online followers out of more than $1 billion.
March 2023: Arrest on Fraud Charges
In March 2023, Guo Wengui was arrested by U.S. federal authorities on fraud charges.
July 2024: Conviction in New York
In July 2024, Guo Wengui was convicted in New York of defrauding followers.
July 2024: Singapore Blocks Guo-Affiliated Social Media Accounts
In July 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore directed social media platforms to block nearly 100 social media accounts affiliated with Guo Wengui, citing his hostile information campaign against Singapore.
November 19, 2024: Guo Wengui Sentencing Scheduled
Guo Wengui's sentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2024, following his conviction on fraud charges.
January 6, 2025: Associate Sentenced, Guo's Sentencing Postponed
On January 6, 2025, at the sentencing hearing, Guo Wengui's associate, Yvette Wang, was sentenced to ten years in prison. Guo's sentencing was not scheduled, and the court has yet to set a new date.
