Haley Booster’s Company Settled Chinese Bribery Charges in 2014

Nikki Haley often calls China the “number one national security threat we face” on the campaign trail. 

But a company run by the billionaire who is supporting a new pro-Haley super PAC once paid millions to settle civil charges over bribery tied to China. Although Haley is not affiliated with the super PAC, the corporate history behind one of its donors might raise questions about her tough-on-China campaign pitch. 

Bruker Corporation CEO Frank Laukien recently launched the new Independents Moving the Needle super PAC to boost Haley’s campaign in the New Hampshire primary. Laukien is a co-founder of the super PAC along with his wife, Tamra, and Jonathan Bush, the nephew of former President George H.W. Bush, among others. 

Nearly a decade ago, the Bruker Corporation paid $2.4 million to settle civil charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging that a subsidiary of the company in China made improper payments to Chinese government officials. A representative for Laukien declined to comment.

The Bruker Corporation voluntarily reported the improper payments to the SEC in 2011, terminated some employees and ended business relationships with some third-party agents after an investigation, according an SEC filing. Bruker paid a $400,000 fine, $1.7 million in disgorgements and $300,000 in pre-judgement interest, totaling $2.4 million in December 2014. 

Haley’s campaign did not comment. The former South Carolina governor is not affiliated with the outside group because super PACs are forbidden from coordinating directly with campaigns.

The connection comes as China is a major focal point in the Republican primary race. The China policy fight has been waged on the GOP primary debate stage, during campaign town halls and in the mailboxes of early state voters. A pro-Haley super PAC, SFA Fund, sent fliers to Iowa voters this fall with the message "CHINA IS NOT OUR ALLY, THEY ARE OUR ENEMY.” 

The pro-Ron DeSantis Never Back Down super PAC, meanwhile, has used campaign mail to try and make Haley seem too close to China. The group printed Iowa campaign mail with images of Haley’s face superimposed on the Chinese flag. 

“NIKKI HALEY SOLD OUT Americans to COMMUNIST CHINA,” one Never Back Down mailer reads. Another mailer features an image of a gift wrapped in the Chinese flag with a bow. The gift tag says “To: Communist China. From: Your friend, Nikki Haley.” 

The Independents Moving the Needle super PAC is focused on unaffiliated voters in independent-heavy New Hampshire, where Haley has eclipsed DeSantis for second place in primary polls behind former President Donald Trump. The group lists Haley’s “sound strategy for China” as a reason why voters should support her on its website. 

"We will have a meaningful operation to really address the Independents that have the chance to really almost make history,” Laukien said in an interview with New Hampshire TV station WMUR this week.