Former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul and ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo, Linda Sun, faces charges of acting as an agent for the Chinese government, as announced by US Attorney Breon Peace on Tuesday.
Sun, previously a deputy chief of staff for Hochul and an aide to Cuomo, is charged with violating the Foreign Agents Registrations Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy, according to an unsealed indictment.
Her husband, Chris Hu, is also charged with money laundering conspiracy, bank fraud conspiracy, and misuse of identification, prosecutors revealed. Federal investigators raided their home in July. Prosecutors claim Sun operated as an undisclosed agent for the Chinese government while Hu facilitated the transfer of kickbacks for personal gain.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: A former aid for New York Governor Kathy Hochul was arrested and charged Tuesday with acting as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government, a federal indictment reveals.
Linda Sun at the request of Chinese officials, blocked representatives of the… pic.twitter.com/utOjVxL1pz
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) September 3, 2024
The couple was arrested at their Long Island home on Tuesday morning. Both Sun and Hu pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal court on Tuesday afternoon. Sun’s bond is set at $1.5 million and Hu’s at $500,000. Their travel is restricted to New York City, Long Island, Maine, and New Hampshire.
During the hearing, prosecutors said the defendants used shell companies, iCloud accounts, and WeChat messages in Mandarin for their alleged crimes. Defense attorney Seth DuCharme expressed confidence in their case, describing the allegations as perplexing and inflammatory. He stated the defendants are eager for a speedy trial.
The next status conference is scheduled for September 25. Sun’s government career spanned over a decade, with roles in various agencies focused on economic development, labour, and the executive chamber. She began as chief of staff in Rep. Grace Meng’s office in 2009 and later held multiple positions in the Cuomo administration, including director of Asian American affairs and chief diversity officer. In 2021, Hochul appointed Sun as deputy chief of staff before she moved to the Department of Labour.
🚨BREAKING: A former aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul was arrested along with her husband Tuesday morning after their Long Island home was raided by the feds earlier this year, the FBI said.
Linda Sun and her husband, Christopher Hu, were arrested on Long Island. CCP Agents?🤔 pic.twitter.com/n1ZVUKBKlm
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) September 3, 2024
Sun was dismissed in March 2023 after Hochul’s office found evidence of misconduct and reported her actions to law enforcement, according to Hochul’s press secretary, Avi Small. Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, emphasised that national security must remain free from foreign influence, noting that Sun had limited interaction with the governor during her tenure.
Court documents indicate Sun violated internal rules and state protocols to benefit the Chinese government. She allegedly acted as an undisclosed agent for the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party, engaging in political activities to further their interests.
The indictment details Sun’s efforts to secure unauthorized invitation letters for Chinese officials to facilitate travel to the US for meetings with New York state officials. These letters included false statements about immigration documents. Prosecutors also claim Sun attempted to arrange a trip to China for a high-level New York politician.
Sun and Hu allegedly received substantial financial and other benefits, including millions of dollars in transactions for Hu’s business activities, travel benefits, tickets to events, employment for Sun’s cousin in China, and deliveries of food prepared by a PRC official’s personal chef. They reportedly laundered money to purchase real estate in New York and Hawaii and luxury vehicles.
Sun is accused of blocking Taiwanese government representatives from accessing state officials, knowing the CCP opposed such diplomacy. She allegedly influenced Cuomo’s and Hochul’s messaging on issues important to the PRC and CCP and limited interactions with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US.
In one instance, Sun blocked a request for a congratulatory message from Cuomo to Taiwan following its presidential election. In another, she added a Chinese official to a private New York State government conference call regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, Sun worked to ensure Cuomo publicly praised Chinese officials for sending medical equipment to New York while blocking Taiwan’s similar contributions from receiving acknowledgment. An archived social media post shows Cuomo thanked the Chinese government and related foundations for facilitating a donation of 1,000 ventilators.
Governor Hochul expressed her outrage and shock at Sun’s alleged behaviour, describing it as a betrayal of trust. She confirmed Sun was fired in 2023 upon discovering misconduct and alerted authorities. Hochul declined to provide further details about Sun’s dismissal, citing ongoing investigations. She noted that Sun worked for her administration for only 15 months and was initially hired by the previous administration. This story is ongoing and will be updated.
What Other Media Are Saying
- BBC reports on the trial of Bella Nilsson, known as Sweden’s “Queen of Trash,” for allegedly dumping large amounts of waste, part of Sweden’s biggest environmental crime trial.(read more)
- NBC News reports that Linda Sun, a former top aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, has been arrested and accused of acting as an undercover operative for the Chinese government.(read more)
- The New York Times reports that Linda Sun, a former aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul, has been charged as a Chinese agent, accused of using her position to benefit the Chinese government in exchange for money and travel.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who was charged with acting as an agent for the Chinese government?
Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Gov. Hochul and former Gov. Cuomo.
What charges do Linda Sun and her husband face?
They face charges of acting as foreign agents, visa fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy.
What did Linda Sun allegedly do to help the Chinese government?
She acted as an undisclosed agent and facilitated political activities for the CCP.
How did prosecutors say Sun and her husband benefited economically?
They received millions in transactions, travel benefits, event tickets, and real estate purchases.
What was Hochul’s reaction to the allegations against Linda Sun?
Hochul was furious and shocked, calling it a betrayal of trust.