BREAKING: Kathy Hochul aide charged with acting as agent for Chinese Communist Party

Federal prosecutors disclosed in a comprehensive indictment on Tuesday that a former deputy chief of staff to New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) had been allegedly acting as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government, the United States Attorney's Office of Eastern District New York said in a press release.

Linda Sun, 41, of Manhasset, New York, and her husband, Chris Hu, 40, were arrested Tuesday morning at their $3.5 million residence on Long Island. Sun held a variety of positions in the New York state government before rising to the position of Gov. Hochul's deputy chief of staff.

Sun is alleged to have acted on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Republic of China (PRC), per the Department of Justice (DOJ). She has been accused of blocking representatives of the Taiwanese government from having access to high-level officials in New York state, altering state governmental messaging on issues related to the Chinese government, and attempting to facilitate a trip to China for a high-level politician in New York, among others.

Sun has been charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy. Her co-defendant husband, Christopher Hu, has been charged with money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and misuse of means of identification, according to federal prosecutors.

"As alleged, while appearing to serve the people of New York as Deputy Chief of Staff within the New York State Executive Chamber, the defendant and her husband actually worked to further the interests of the Chinese government and the CCP, said US Attorney Breon Peace. "The illicit scheme enriched the defendant's family to the tune of millions of dollars. Our Office will act decisively to prosecute those who serve as undisclosed agents of a foreign government."

FBI Acting Assistant Director Curtis said that while Sun had been acting as an agent for the PRC and CCP, Christopher Hu "facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars in kickbacks for personal gain."

"Sun wielded her position of influence among executives to covertly promote PRC and CCP agendas, directly threatening our country's national security," alleged Curtis.

An IRS investigation claimed that Sun and her husband laundered millions of dollars for the foreign country and used the monetary benefits of this scheme to buy luxury vehicles and million-dollar properties in New York.

Sun worked in the state government for approximately 15 years, assuming positions in the administration of former Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) and ultimately becoming Hochul's deputy chief of staff, according to her LinkedIn page. In Nov. 2022, Sun accepted a position as deputy commissioner for strategic business development at the New York Department of Labor. However, she resigned from the position in March 2023, several months later.

A spokesperson for Hochul's office said in a statement, according to the AP, that the administration fired Sun after "discovering evidence of misconduct."
 

"This individual was hired by the Executive Chamber more than a decade ago. We terminated her employment March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement and have assisted law enforcement throughout this process," the office said.

Sun and Hu are scheduled to be arraigned later today before the United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.

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