Former Senior Aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul Charged With Acting as Chinese Agent

Photo by: zz/NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx 2024 via AP

Linda Sun , who served as deputy chief of staff to New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D), has been charged with violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act on behalf of the Chinese government, as well as visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering.

According to a Department of Justice press release published on Tuesday, “Sun is alleged to have acted on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China (the ‘PRC’) and the Chinese Communist Party (the ‘CCP’). Sun’s husband and co-defendant Chris Hu was also charged with money laundering conspiracy, as well as conspiracy to commit bank fraud and misuse of means of identification.”

According to U.S. Attorney Breon Peace , Sun and Hu “actually worked to further the interests of the Chinese government and the CCP” while appearing to serve the people of New York as Deputy Chief of Staff within the New York State Executive Chamber.”

“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,” said Peace.

From the press release :

Sun engaged in numerous political activities in the interests of the PRC and the CCP, including blocking representatives of the Taiwanese government from having access to high-level New York State officers; changing high-level New York State officers’ messaging regarding issues of importance to the PRC and the CCP; obtaining official New York State proclamations for PRC government representatives without proper authorization; attempting to facilitate a trip to the PRC by a high-level New York State politician; and arranging meetings for visiting delegations from the PRC government with New York State government officials.

Sun also repeatedly violated internal rules and protocols within the New York State government to provide improper benefits to PRC and the CCP representatives, including by providing unauthorized invitation letters from the office of high-level New York State officers that were used to facilitate travel by PRC government officials into the United States for meetings with New York State government officials. Sun’s unauthorized invitation letters for the PRC government delegation constituted false statements made in connection with immigration documents and induced the foreign citizens into unlawfully entering the United States.

For her efforts on behalf of the Chinese Government, Sun is alleged to have been rewarded with “the facilitation of millions of dollars in transactions for the PRC-based business activities of Hu; travel benefits; tickets to events; promotion of a close family friend’s business; employment for Sun’s cousin in the PRC; and Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by a PRC government official’s personal chef that were delivered to the residence of Sun’s parents.”

The couple is accused of laundering “the monetary proceeds of this scheme to purchase, among other items, real estate property in Manhasset, New York currently valued at $4.1 million, a condominium in Honolulu, Hawaii currently valued at $2.1 million, and various luxury automobiles, including a 2024 Ferrari.”