Federal officials unsealed an indictment on Tuesday charging a former aide to New York governors with acting as an undisclosed agent of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party.
Linda Sun worked for current New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. She is accused of engaging in political activities in the interests of the CCP and she and her husband, Chris Hu, are accused of conspiring to launder the proceeds of her unlawful activities.
“As alleged, while appearing to serve the people of New York as Deputy Chief of Staff within the New York State Executive Chamber, the defendant and her husband actually worked to further the interests of the Chinese government and the CCP,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace said in a press release. “The illicit scheme enriched the defendant’s family to the tune of millions of dollars. Our Office will act decisively to prosecute those who serve as undisclosed agents of a foreign government.”
“As alleged in the indictment, Linda Sun, a former New York State government employee, acted as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government while her husband, Christopher Hu, facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars in kickbacks for personal gain. Sun wielded her position of influence among executives to covertly promote PRC and CCP agendas, directly threatening our country’s national security. The FBI is committed to protect the American people from any threat actors who seek to influence officials at the direction of foreign entities,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director Curtis.
The Wall Street Journal reports on the charges against Sun and her husband. Here’s the start of the story:
A former deputy chief of staff to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was arrested and charged Tuesday in a decadelong scheme to use her state government positions to do the bidding of the Chinese government.
In a 64-page indictment, Linda Sun was accused of forging Hochul’s signature, helping a Chinese official eavesdrop on a conference call with New York officials and facilitating travel to the U.S. for other dignitaries.
In exchange Sun, 41 years old, got a taste of the good life: Federal prosecutors said Chinese officials lavished her and her family with millions of dollars in kickbacks, paid for their travel and sent them Nanjing-style salted ducks to dine on. She and her husband used the cash to purchase their $4.1 million Manhasset, N.Y., home, a condo in Hawaii and luxury cars, including a 2024 Ferrari, according to prosecutors.
The Brooklyn U.S. attorney’s office charged Sun, a Chinese-born U.S. citizen, with eight criminal counts, including conspiring to act as illegal foreign agent, visa fraud and conspiring to launder money. Her husband, Chris Hu, was also charged with bank-fraud and money-laundering conspiracies. The couple was arrested Tuesday at their Long Island home. The two defendants pleaded not guilty at an appearance in federal court in the afternoon. Sun’s bond was set at $1.5 million.