Ex-NY Governor Aide Arrested for Alleged Chinese Agent Activities
Former senior aide to NY Governor Hochul arrested for allegedly acting as undisclosed Chinese agent. Charges include money laundering and visa fraud, highlighting concerns about foreign influence in US politics.
Linda Sun, a former senior aide to New York's Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, has been apprehended on charges of acting as an undisclosed agent of China. The arrest, which took place on September 3, 2024, has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of New York and raised concerns about foreign influence in American politics.
Sun, 41, who served as deputy chief of staff to Governor Hochul for two years, was arrested along with her husband, Chris Hu, 40, at their Long Island residence. The arrests came six weeks after FBI agents conducted a search of their property.
The charges against Sun are severe, including violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering. Her husband, who operates a seafood and wine business, faces charges of money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
According to US Attorney Breon Peace, the couple allegedly "laundered millions of dollars" for China and used the proceeds to acquire substantial assets. These include a $4.1 million property on Long Island, a $2.1 million condominium in Hawaii, and luxury vehicles, including a 2024 Ferrari.
The case has brought attention to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which was enacted in 1938 to combat foreign influence in the United States. It also highlights the ongoing concerns about the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to exert influence abroad, a practice that has been a point of contention since the party's founding in 1921.
Christie Curtis, FBI acting assistant director, stated that Sun had "wielded her position of influence among executives to covertly promote PRC and CCP agendas, directly threatening our country's national security." This statement underscores the seriousness with which US authorities view potential foreign interference in domestic affairs.
The indictment alleges that Sun engaged in numerous political activities on behalf of China while working as the highest-ranking Asian-American in the New York State government. These activities reportedly included blocking Taiwanese government representatives from accessing high-level New York State officers, a particularly sensitive issue given Taiwan's complex political status since 1949.
"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."
This case follows closely on the heels of another high-profile political scandal. Just two weeks prior, long-serving New Jersey Democrat Senator Bob Menendez resigned from the US Senate after being convicted on 16 counts related to a bribery scheme involving the Qatari and Egyptian governments.
The arrests of Sun and Hu serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by US law enforcement in combating foreign influence in domestic politics. As the case unfolds, it is likely to prompt further scrutiny of political appointments and the mechanisms in place to prevent undisclosed foreign agents from infiltrating government positions.
