Linda Sun, a former aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY), allegedly received a treasure trove of gifts from the Chinese government for her actions revealed in an unsealed indictment on Tuesday.
Among many allegations, she allegedly took pointers from Chinese government officials and influenced the policy and messaging of high-ranking New York officials to China's benefit. Her husband, Chris Hu, was also indicted on money laundering charges, among other things.
Here's a rundown of what authorities accuse Sun of doing and what she received in return.
Sun's alleged actions Sun is accused of numerous actions that likely benefited herself and China's governmental affairs in New York. Some of Sun's alleged actions were more subtle, such as changing political messaging in statements, while others were more egregious.
Phone calls and meetings
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sun invited a Chinese official to eavesdrop on a private government call concerning the pandemic response and rising hate crimes against Asians. She added the official to the call without informing anyone else and scolded the official at points for not muting the phone. After the call, the official noted it was "very useful."
She also messaged a Chinese official that she had blocked all formal and informal meetings between Taiwanese officials and Hochul or then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. She said she "maintained a bare minimum of a relationship with them.”
Lunar New Year video ignoring 'Uyghurs situation'
In another instance, a Chinese official asked her if Cuomo would make a Lunar New Year video to celebrate the holiday, and she agreed but said Hochul would be more likely to do it. Hochul agreed to deliver the speech, and Sun appeared to share a video of the speech with an official who approved of it.
During the process of making the video, Hochul's speechwriter insisted she mention the "Uyghurs situation" in the video, a request that angered Sun and a Chinese official. China has been accused of persecuting the Uyghurs and committing genocide against them. Hochul did not mention Uyghurs in the video, and the Chinese official posted the video to a consulate Facebook page.
In an interview with NPR's All Things Considered, Hochul refused to comment on the message when asked, though she said, "That's what they're alleging," and condemned Sun.
Travel arrangements
Outside of the executive office, Sun helped arrange travel into the United States for a Chinese government delegation by falsifying an invitation signed by Hochul, resulting in several immigration-related charges.
In one of her final acts, Sun attended public and professional Asian community events in July 2023, claiming to be the deputy commissioner of the state Department of Labor after her employment was terminated in March of that year. She received a cease-and-desist order from the Department of Labor for her actions.
Sun is charged with 10 counts, including violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy.
Sun's compensation Sun received numerous gifts, sums of money, and favors in exchange for her alleged work for the Chinese government. Her main source of financial compensation was through her husband, Hu, who took in millions for China-related business with the help of the Chinese government.
Real estate purchases
Her largest purchases included a home on Long Island for $3.6 million and an oceanview condo in a Hawaii high-rise building for $1.9 million. She took out no mortgage loans for either purchase, and they took place not long after wire transfers totaling more than $2.1 million hit her bank account.
Her Long Island home is located in Manhasset, New York, in the Stone Hill gated community. That home and her Hawaii home are valued at $4.05 million and $2.1 million, respectively. While she was shopping for her Long Island home, a relative worried that people would question how she could afford such an expensive home.
"Mortgage," Sun replied.
Exotic vehicles
Sun also purchased several luxury vehicles while she was allegedly working for China. Authorities seized three cars from Hu and Sun: a 2024 Ferrari Roma, a 2024 Range Rover/L460, and a 2022 Mercedes GLB250W4.
The Roma has an MSRP of over $240,000, while her other luxury car, the Range Rover, is worth at least $100,000. Adding in the 2022 Mercedes, Sun's cars have a combined MSRP of nearly $400,000.
Food, travel, and entertainment
She also received meal favors in the form of salted ducks for her and her family on at least four occasions between 2021 and 2022. Other entertainment for Sun included several instances in which she was gifted tickets for her or her family to go to performances at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center among others. She was also gifted six tickets with VIP suite access to an "unspecified sporting event" in 2022.
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The Chinese government also helped with Sun's travel expenditures on multiple trips to China, including paying for a 2017 trip that included Sun, her husband, and family members. Lastly, Sun's cousin received a 10-year employment contract with the help of one of her China-based contacts.
Nonexhaustively, this is the majority of Sun's listed indictment compensation from the Chinese government. There could be further compensation that authorities haven't revealed. Noted in the indictment is that the gifts listed were according to "written correspondence."
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