EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) paid thousands of dollars from his campaign to place ads in a Chinese-owned newspaper registered as a foreign agent. However, the House Democrat now claims this was done “unknowingly” and says he is reviewing the cash transfers.

“If they are in any way affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, they’ll never get anything from us again,” Suozzi said. “The CCP has tentacles trying to influence the distribution of information and disinformation throughout our society. There’s lesser-known examples like this, and [China] has a very sophisticated effort.”