Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, has been charged with acting as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government, according to federal prosecutors in Brooklyn. Sun, 41, was arrested on Tuesday and is accused of using her position to promote Chinese government agendas and block representatives of the Taiwanese government from meeting with officials. She also allegedly tried to arrange for a high-level New York state official to visit China. In exchange, Chinese government representatives facilitated millions of dollars in transactions for Sun’s husband, Chris Hu, who had business activities in China.
Sun, who was a top aide to both Hochul and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, allegedly received gifts from Chinese officials, including Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by a personal chef and delivered to her parents’ home. Assistant Director Christine Curtis of the FBI’s New York office stated that Sun’s actions directly threatened national security.
Many Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans are reportedly unhappy with China, according to a recent poll. Sun and Hu’s lawyers have not yet responded to requests for comment. Overall, the charges against Sun highlight concerns about foreign influence and the importance of transparency and accountability in government positions.
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