Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) is facing criticism for his alleged close ties with China in the ongoing Senate race against Republican candidate Dave McCormick. Despite having run on a reform platform to combat corruption, several reports suggest that Casey has been notably lenient on China, accepting significant donations from Chinese-linked business groups and overseeing large investments of state workers’ pensions into a firm backed by the CCP, among other actions.
In August 2022, Casey was among Democrat senators who voted against S. Amdt. 5265, which would have imposed specific conditions on exports of crude oil to China released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The amendment aimed to increase the bidding amount significantly for any bid submitted by a bidder intending to export crude oil to the People’s Republic of China.
Additionally, Casey has reportedly accepted thousands of dollars from lobbyists representing companies with ties to China, including some linked to the CCP’s military. In 2023 donation records, Robert Van Heuvelen, a lobbyist for the Vogel Group, contributed $1,000 to Casey’s campaign according to Open Secrets. The Vogel Group represents Autel Automotive Intelligence USA, which is a subsidiary of the China-based company, Autel Intelligent Technology Corp.
Donation records from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) also show that Van Heuvelen donated another $1,000 to Casey in 2023. In October 2022, DJI Technology, which is represented by Team Subject Matter lobbyist Keith Castaldo, was added to the DOD’s blacklist of Chinese companies due to ties with China’s military.
Casey has received donations from other lobbyists as well, including Steven Elmendorf and Barry LaSala, both of Team Subject Matter, totaling $5,320 in 2023 according to Open Secrets. As the state treasurer, Casey reportedly oversaw a $31,386,930 investment from state workers’ pensions into China Mobile Ltd., a firm backed by the CCP.
Dave McCormick criticized Casey in December 2023 for appearing weak on China and not standing up against the CCP or supporting a strong and resilient America.