House Republican urges probe into ‘full impact’ of former Hochul aide’s China ties

Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) pushed for a probe into a former aide for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and the “the full impact” of her “influence on the New York State government and economy” in the wake of the aide being charged with and arrested for acting as an agent of China.

“I write to you today with grave concern regarding the Department of Justice’s recent indictment of Linda Sun and allegations that Ms. Sun used her influence in your administration to further the interests of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and promote policies beneficial to the CCP,” a letter from Tenney to Hochul dated Wednesday reads.

“These allegations are deeply disturbing and call into question your judgment in hiring and listening to such an individual,” the letter continues. “I urge the appointment of a bipartisan panel to investigate you and your administration’s actions and the full impact of Ms. Sun’s influence on the New York State government and economy.”

Tenney’s letter follows Sun and her husband being arrested earlier this week, per The Associated Press. Prosecutors said Sun worked for the Chinese government and the CCP as an undisclosed agent in an indictment released Tuesday.

Both Sun and her husband pleaded not guilty Tuesday, the U.S. attorney’s offices for the Eastern District of New York told The Hill previously.

Tenney noted “actions” that she said Sun had been accused of to halt “meeting requests from anti-CCP or pro-Taiwan organizations” in her Wednesday letter to Hochul.

“While these actions have only recently come to light, we still do not know the full impact that Ms. Sun’s actions have had on the New York State government or economy,” Tenney said in the letter. “These revelations also call into question numerous policy decisions by your administration and what influence, if any, Ms. Sun had on these decisions.”

The Hill has reached out to Hochul’s press office for further comment.

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