WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who served under President Barack Obama from 2015 to 2017, is now representing Chinese drone manufacturer DJI in a lawsuit challenging the Pentagon. The lawsuit, filed on Oct. 18, disputes the Department of Defense’s (DOD) classification of DJI as a “Chinese military company.” Lynch, along with four other attorneys from the firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, aims to overturn this designation.
The case centers on the DOD’s 2022 decision to include DJI on its Section 1260H entity list, which identifies companies believed to be owned or controlled by the Chinese military. The designation has drawn increased scrutiny of DJI’s activities, with concerns that the company supports China’s military-industrial complex. Both the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments have previously sanctioned DJI, citing its role in providing surveillance technology to the Chinese government, including its use in monitoring Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. The Trump and Biden administrations have described these activities as contributing to human rights abuses in the region.
Lynch’s legal team argues that the Pentagon has not provided adequate evidence to support its labeling of DJI as a military-controlled entity, claiming that this designation has caused significant harm to the company’s reputation and finances. DJI continues to deny any connections to the Chinese military and rejects allegations of involvement in human rights abuses.
Political Backlash and National Security Concerns
Lynch’s tenacious representation of DJI has sparked criticism, especially from Republican lawmakers. Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, a long-time critic of DJI, has been particularly vocal, condemning Lynch’s involvement in the case. Stefanik accused the former attorney general of supporting a company with alleged ties to China’s government and downplaying its human rights record.
“Barack Obama’s former Attorney General Loretta Lynch has turned her back on her nation, selling out to our greatest adversary, Communist China, and suing the United States on behalf of CCP-owned drone company DJI,” Stefanik said earlier this week. She also labeled the lawsuit a strategic move by DJI to deflect attention from recent U.S. actions, such as the halting of DJI imports over concerns related to forced labor in Xinjiang.
Stefanik has been a strong proponent of legislative efforts to ban DJI drones in the United States, emphasizing the potential national security risks posed by the company’s products. U.S. officials have warned that DJI drones could be used for espionage or unauthorized data collection, given their widespread use in both consumer and commercial markets.
DJI’s Market Presence and Data Privacy Concerns
The concerns over DJI’s operations are not new. In 2020, the Department of Commerce added DJI to its Entity List, restricting American companies from exporting technology to the drone maker without a license. This move was part of a broader U.S. strategy to reduce Chinese influence in critical technology sectors.
Multiple reports have suggested that DJI’s software could transmit user data, such as photos and location information, to servers in China. While DJI has consistently denied these claims, stating that users have full control over their data, the allegations have fueled ongoing skepticism. The company’s large market share—over 70% in some segments—makes it a focal point in the debate over Chinese technology in the U.S.
In 2022, a Politico report highlighted the presence of DJI drones in restricted airspace over Washington, D.C., raising additional security concerns. The drones, designed with software to prevent flights over sensitive areas, were reportedly being manipulated by users to bypass these restrictions. While officials did not directly link these incidents to Chinese government directives, they underscored the potential risks of widespread drone use near critical infrastructure.
A Continued Legal Battle
Despite the growing political pressure, DJI maintains that it is neither owned nor controlled by the Chinese government or military. The company claims that its legal challenge is aimed at correcting what it views as an unfair and damaging classification by the Pentagon, amidst broader geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China.
This is not Lynch’s first attempt to reverse the Pentagon’s stance on DJI. Earlier this year, she led a similar effort, underscoring the high stakes for the Chinese drone manufacturer. Lynch’s involvement in the case has raised questions about her political alliances, especially following her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the upcoming presidential election.
As the lawsuit proceeds, it is likely to attract continued scrutiny, reflecting the broader tensions between the United States and China.
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The democrat party under Barack Obama should be required to change its name to the Communist Party of America. When are we going to charge those corrupt treasonous politicians and throw them in a federal gray rock prison?
Will this wake up Americans to Obama’s crimes?
I would say they are selling out the USA. They belong to the communist democrat party which is probably in bed with the CCP. My guess is the drones are sending back info to the CCP. These drones need to be inspected for the possibility they are doing just that. Obama, Biden, Harris, Lynch to mention a few are no lovers of the USA and could be operatives of the CCP. We need to respond to all the treason that the USA is facing foreign and domestic.
Lynch is just one of many corrupt Obama administration official,s who who need to be held accountable for their crimes against the United States.
…against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
sOO? That is not valid anymore for the tens of thousands of US troops? Well then ………………………FU!
She was useless then and she is still useless