A former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul was arrested Tuesday alongside her husband on charges of acting as an agent of the Chinese government. Linda Sun is accused of having used her positions to subtly advance Chinese interests in exchange for millions of dollars.
Sun was arrested by FBI agents along with her husband, Chris Hu. Their arrest follows a six week investigation that included a search of her $3.5 million home in the Long Island town of Manhasset. Sun faces multiple charges including violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, as well as visa fraud, human smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy. Hu is accused of money laundering and committing bank fraud, according to the indictment. The FBI and the Eastern District of New York have declined to comment on the charges or provide further details.
The indictment also alleges that Sun facilitated unauthorized meetings between Chinese officials and New York State authorities and attempted to block Taiwanese representatives from engaging with the governor’s office.
Sun’s career in New York State government began over a decade ago, with roles spanning from business development to diversity and inclusion. She also served as deputy chief of staff for Hochul and held various positions in the administration of Andrew Cuomo, who preceded Hochul, having served as governor from 2011 to 2021.
The couple was indicted following an FBI search of their home in July. In March 2023, Hochul’s administration terminated Sun’s employment after discovering evidence of misconduct. The case has also coincided with the removal of China’s former New York consul general.
This comes at a time when US-China relations are increasingly fraught. In May, the US unveiled some 300 sanctions targeting Hong Kong and China companies for their alleged ties to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The same month, China also unveiled sanctions on US companies over weapons trade with Taiwan. Additionally, in July, the US sanctioned Chinese officials for ongoing human rights violations. In May 2022, the DOJ charged one US citizen and four Chinese nationals with espionage.
