Governor Kathy Hochul’s Former Aide Arrested for Working as Chinese Agent

Linda Sun, a former high-ranking aide to New York governors Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo, has been arrested on charges of acting as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government.

At a Glance

• Linda Sun, aide to former New York Governors Hochul and Cuomo, accused of working for the Chinese government.
• Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, benefited financially from businesses linked to China.
• They face multiple charges, including money laundering and visa fraud.
• Both pleaded not guilty, were released on bond, and surrendered their passports.

High-Stakes Allegations

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York unsealed an indictment charging Linda Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, with ten criminal counts. Sun, who served as deputy chief of staff to both Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is accused of blocking Taiwanese officials’ access to the governor’s office and removing references to Taiwan from state communications. The indictment claims the defendants benefited financially from their activities, using funds for luxury real estate and vehicles.

Sun allegedly received payoffs, including Nanjing-style salted ducks, travel benefits, event tickets, and the promotion of a friend’s freight business. Her activities extended to preventing state officials from addressing the persecution of Uyghurs, a primarily Muslim ethnic group in China.

Financial Improprieties and Legal Proceedings

The indictment revealed that the couple operated as unregistered Chinese government agents while enriching themselves with luxury purchases. They were arrested at their Long Island home, valued at $3.6 million. They pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include money laundering, visa fraud, and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Both were released on bond, with strict travel restrictions and a prohibition against contacting Chinese diplomatic entities.

“Prosecutors say that Ms. Sun blocked Taiwanese officials from having access to the governor’s office, eliminated references to Taiwan from state communications and quashed meetings between Taiwanese officials and state leaders, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, who succeeded Mr. Cuomo and who promoted Ms. Sun to deputy chief of staff,” the New York Times reported.

Sun’s husband, Chris Hu, faces additional charges of money laundering. The couple’s financial gains include the purchase of a $4.1 million home, a $2.1 million condominium, and several luxury cars.

Political and Diplomatic Repercussions

Governor Hochul expressed shock at the news, labeling Sun’s actions as a betrayal of trust. Hochul emphasized that Sun was fired and reported to law enforcement when misconduct was discovered. Similarly, former Gov. Cuomo’s spokesperson stressed the importance of safeguarding national security from foreign influence.

“It was a betrayal of trust,” Hochul told WNYC about the allegations against Sun. The governor said her office fired Sun in March 2023, “the second we discovered some levels of misconduct” and alerted the authorities, but did not divulge further details.”

This case also underscores ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China, contributing to mutual accusations of espionage and influence peddling. Recent years have seen an increase in scrutiny and arrests related to foreign government activities. The Chinese embassy in Washington dismissed the allegations, pointing to similar past cases that eventually fell apart and asserting compliance with host country laws.