Long Island, NY – Former Aide Charged for Acting as Agent of Chinese Government
In a significant legal development, a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, along with her husband, was charged with serious offenses, including acting as an agent for the Chinese government. US Attorney Breon Peace announced the charges against Linda Sun, a former deputy chief of staff to both Hochul and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, on Tuesday. The charges come as part of an unsealed indictment revealing various alleged violations.
Details of the Charges
Linda Sun faces multiple charges, including violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy. Her husband, Chris Hu, is also implicated, charged with money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and misusing identification means.
Both Sun and Hu were arrested at their Long Island home on Tuesday morning after federal investigators raided their residence in July. They pleaded not guilty to all charges during a federal court hearing that same afternoon. Linda Sun’s bond was set at $1.5 million, and her husband’s at $500,000. Following the hearing, their travel has been limited to specific areas, including New York City, Long Island, Maine, and New Hampshire.
Prosecutors’ Allegations
According to prosecutors, Sun acted as an undisclosed agent for the Chinese government, while Hu allegedly facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars in kickbacks for personal gain. The documents reveal that the couple used shell companies and private communication methods in Mandarin to carry out their alleged criminal activities, further complicating their case.
Defense attorney Seth DuCharme expressed confidence in Sun and Hu’s innocence, calling the indictment perplexing and overly inflammatory. “We are looking forward to our day in court,” DuCharme stated. Meanwhile, Jarrod Schaeffer, Sun’s attorney, criticized the charges as being excessively aggressive.
Sun’s Government Career
Linda Sun has a lengthy history of public service, spanning over a decade. She held various positions focused on economic development, labor, and executive matters in New York. Her career began in 2009 when she was hired as chief of staff for Rep. Grace Meng’s office. Later, during Andrew Cuomo’s administration, Sun served as the director of Asian American affairs and later as the chief diversity officer.
After Hochul took office, Sun became the deputy chief of staff, retaining the position for roughly a year before transitioning to a role as deputy commissioner for strategic business at the Department of Labor. Notably, she was fired from this position in March 2023, following the establishment of “evidence of misconduct,” as stated by Hochul’s press secretary.
Allegations of Misconduct
The court documents allege that Sun violated government protocols to greatly benefit the Chinese government. This includes efforts to secure unauthorized invitation letters to facilitate travel for Chinese officials into the United States, misusing her position to advance the interests of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). For instance, she reportedly blocked Taiwanese government representatives from having access to New York state officials.
In fact, during her tenure, Sun is said to have played a role in influencing how the governors interacted with representatives of Taiwan, notably declining to send a congratulatory letter following Taiwan’s presidential elections in 2020, fearing political controversy.
Reacting to the Accusations
Governor Hochul expressed shock and outrage at the alleged actions of Sun, deeming them a “betrayal of trust.” After discovering the misconduct, Hochul stated that she reported the matter to law enforcement, leading to the charges now facing Sun and Hu. The governor emphasized that her administration did not tolerate any form of misconduct and that immediate actions were taken upon discovering the alleged wrongdoings.
Next Steps in the Case
The case against Linda Sun and Chris Hu represents a significant legal matter in New York, drawing attention to issues of national security and foreign influence within local government. Their next court status conference is scheduled for September 25, where more details are expected to emerge. As the situation develops, many will be closely watching how the court proceedings unfold.
