Former aide to NY governors charged as Chinese agent
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The news: Linda Sun, a former senior aide to two New York governors, was charged with acting as an illegal Chinese agent accused of using her position to advance Beijing's agenda in the US, including blocking Taiwanese officials from accessing the governor’s office.
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn charged Sun with conspiring to act as an illegal foreign agent, visa fraud and money laundering.
Her husband, Chris Hu, was also charged with bank fraud and money laundering conspiracies.
The context: Sun held various roles in the administrations of former Governor Andrew Cuomo and his successor, Kathy Hochul, including as her deputy chief of staff, until being dismissed in March 2023 after state officials discovered evidence of misconduct.
Sun is accused of blocking Taiwanese representatives from meeting with New York officials and forging Hochul's signature on letters to Chinese officials.
In one case, she urged the removal of a mention of the detention of members of China’s Muslim Uyghur minority from a video message that Hochul, then the state's lieutenant governor, recorded to celebrate Lunar New Year, the Wall Street Journal reported citing the 64-page indictment.
In exchange, the couple allegedly received millions of dollars used to purchase luxury properties and vehicles.
The sources: DOJ statement, The New York Times
