A former senior aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul was arrested on federal charges related to allegedly acting as a covert agent for the Chinese government, authorities announced on Tuesday.
Linda Sun, aged 41, is accused of leveraging her prominent roles within state government to further the interests of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, receiving millions of dollars in return. Her husband, Chris Hu, 40, was also arrested in connection with the allegations.
Sun faces charges that include violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering. Hu has been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, bank fraud, and misuse of identification. Both individuals pleaded not guilty during their court appearance on Tuesday. Sun is expected to be released on a $1.5 million bond, while Hu’s bond is set at $500,000.
Following the hearing, Sun’s attorneys, Jarrod Schaeffer and Kenneth Abell, expressed their disappointment, characterizing the charges as inflammatory and stemming from an overly zealous prosecution. They stated that Sun is eager to pursue a swift trial to defend herself in court.
These arrests come after FBI agents conducted a search at the couple’s $3.5 million home located in a gated community in Manhasset, Long Island, about six weeks ago.
Sun’s state government career spans around 15 years, with roles in the administration of former Governor Andrew Cuomo and serving as Hochul’s deputy chief of staff, as per her LinkedIn profile.
Avi Small, a spokesperson for Hochul, noted that Sun had been employed for over a decade before being terminated in March 2023 due to discovered misconduct. Small stated that Hochul’s team promptly notified law enforcement and has cooperated with the ongoing investigation.
According to the 64-page indictment, Sun obstructed Taiwanese representatives from accessing high-level New York state officials and manipulated communications from state officials regarding matters significant to the Chinese government, all at the behest of Chinese officials. She is also accused of facilitating travel for Chinese government officials to the U.S. by providing unauthorized invitation letters, allowing them to meet New York officials.
Prosecutors indicated that Sun’s provision of unauthorized invitation letters to the Chinese delegation constituted false statements linked to immigration documents and led foreign nationals to unlawfully enter the United States.
Moreover, it is alleged that Sun concealed her actions as being directed by Chinese government representatives without registering as a foreign agent.
In exchange for her services, she reportedly received substantial financial transactions related to her husband’s business endeavors in China, as well as various perks, including event tickets, employment for her cousin in China, and culinary offerings prepared by a personal chef of a Chinese government official for her family.
Prosecutors allege the couple used these funds to purchase their Long Island home, alongside a $2 million condo in Honolulu and luxury vehicles, including a 2024 Ferrari.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, remarked that this is not the first time similar cases have fallen apart in the U.S. He emphasized that China expects its citizens abroad to comply with local laws and condemned what he described as unfounded accusations against China.
Sun was appointed deputy chief of staff to Governor Hochul, a Democrat, in September 2021, becoming the highest-ranked Asian American in the administration. Following her departure from Hochul’s office, she had a brief tenure as a deputy secretary in the state Labor Department.