By Luc Cohen
In a shocking turn of events, a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul has been charged with acting as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn revealed. Linda Sun, 41, was arrested on Tuesday and is expected to appear in court later today. Sun's husband, Chris Hu, also faces criminal charges.
During her time in state government, Sun allegedly prevented representatives of the Taiwanese government from meeting with officials and tried to arrange for a high-ranking New York state official to visit China. In return, Chinese government representatives facilitated millions of dollars in transactions for Hu, 40, who was conducting business activities in China.
The couple used the illicit funds to purchase a 2024 Ferrari Roma sports car, as well as properties in New York's Long Island and Honolulu, totaling around $6 million. Additionally, they received extravagant gifts such as Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by a Chinese government official's personal chef.
Despite the serious charges against them, lawyers for Sun and Hu have not yet commented on the case. Similarly, the Chinese embassy in Washington has not issued a statement regarding the allegations.
Sun, who served as Hochul's deputy chief of staff starting in September 2021, was terminated from her position in March 2023 after evidence of misconduct was uncovered. Hochul's office promptly reported the matter to law enforcement and has cooperated with authorities throughout the investigation.
The U.S. Department of Justice has been increasingly vigilant in pursuing individuals accused of working on behalf of foreign adversaries like China and Russia without proper registration. Just last month, Chinese academic Wang Shujun was convicted in a federal court in Brooklyn for gathering information about New York-based activists supporting democracy in China.
Sun now faces eight charges, including failure to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and money laundering conspiracy, while Hu faces two charges, including bank fraud conspiracy.
Analysis:
This article sheds light on the alarming case of a former government aide charged with acting as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government, highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability in public service. The illicit activities detailed in the article demonstrate the potential consequences of engaging in unlawful behavior for personal gain, emphasizing the need for ethical conduct and compliance with the law. By following the developments of this case, individuals can gain insights into the complexities of international relations and the legal ramifications of espionage and corruption.