She said she did not understand why investigators were interested in her political contributions.

“It’s not just me,” Peranio said. “I don’t know why I always get it.”

The Justice Department declined to comment. The Miami FBI office referred inquiries to the national press office, which did not immediately respond. Karyn Turk, a spokeswoman for Yang, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

FBI agents based in West Palm Beach are trying to determine whether Yang reimbursed Peranio for that contribution or delivered “anything of value” to her over that period to benefit the Trump campaign.

Reimbursing someone for a political contribution without disclosing the original source is illegal, as is making a contribution in someone else’s name.

Agents are seeking records from Peranio, a potential witness in the investigation, that are linked to Yang, Yang’s husband, their businesses, as well as Trump campaign entities and the Republican National Committee.

Cindy Yang, a naturalised American citizen, ran a business that promised Chinese executives access to Trump and his family, particularly at the president’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach.

In 2018, Yang became a promoter of events at Mar-a-Lago, selling tickets on Chinese social media targeting overseas businesspeople with an interest in meeting the US president. Yang and her guests have attended various Trump campaign events.

That raised questions about whether she was using funds paid by foreigners to buy tickets for political events. Foreign nationals are not allowed to contribute to American political campaigns unless they have a green card.

Yang stepped down from her fundraising role for an Asian American Republican group after opposing a change in rules meant to keep out foreign money, according to the group’s executive director.

The investigation could raise complications for a president who, after the Mueller report was delivered to Congress last month, might have hoped to put an end to controversy over foreign influence potentially benefiting his campaign.

Now, China may replace Russia as the latest cause for concern as the 2020 presidential campaign gains steam.

On a website for her consulting company, GY US Investments, Yang posted photographs of herself with Trump, Florida politicians and conservative celebrities.

Tuesday’s subpoena demands that Peranio turn over any records related to that consulting company as well as documents concerning Yang; her husband, Zubin Gong; the president’s political action committee Trump Victory; the Republican National Committee and other companies, and a charity tied to Yang.

In her donation to Trump Victory Peranio listed herself as a manager for FuFu International, a Florida company registered to Yang’s parents and currently involved in a bankruptcy proceeding.

In March, Peranio told the Times she had been working as a receptionist at a massage parlour operated by Yang’s family when she made the US$5,400 donation to Trump Victory. She refused to answer when asked whether she had been reimbursed.

At a fundraiser for Trump’s re-election campaign hosted by the RNC at Mar-a-Lago on March 3, 2018, Yang got her first official photo with the president. He signed it in silver Sharpie and she posted it on Facebook a few weeks later.

The price of the photo was US$50,000 – but Yang did not make a donation of that size. However, The New York Times reported that in the weeks around the event nine of Yang’s family members and business associates – including Peranio – made US$5,400 donations each to Trump’s re-election committee.

As a joint fundraising committee, money given to Trump Victory would benefit both the Republican Party and Donald Trump, said Erin Chlopak, director of campaign finance strategy for the Campaign Legal Centre.

Because money raised benefits both, only the maximum US$5,400 could go to Trump though the RNC can take in higher contributions. If money raised were to benefit only the candidate, the US$5,400 cap would apply.

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, a professor of election law at Stetson University, said it is possible Yang became eligible for the photo by showing she had bundled donations from a variety of people totalling at least US$50,000.

The price of the photo also came with a ticket to a VIP dinner in Mar-a-Lago’s ornate ballroom.

Yang spent the event mingling with other VIP guests, carrying her signature diamante-encrusted MAGA purse. Sometime during the festivities, she snapped photos with Florida agriculture commissioner at the time Adam Putnam and congressman Brian Mast.

Photos from the event were put on the website for her consulting company, where she advertised “a chance to interact with the president” to Chinese businesspeople.

A spokesperson for the RNC said the organisation tries to ensure donations are made legally and foreign citizens are not able to contribute.

The White House declined to provide a statement for publication and the Trump Organisation also did not respond to inquiries from The Miami Herald.

Asked whether Yang had reimbursed her for the donation to Trump, Peranio said she did not hear the question and ended the call.