Linda Sun, a former high-ranking Democrat in the New York state government, was arrested Tuesday on federal charges of acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government.
The arrest, which also included her husband Christopher Hu, has sent shockwaves through New York’s Democratic establishment and raised questions about corruption in state politics.
Sun, 41, who served as deputy chief of staff to Governor Kathy Hochul and previously worked under former Governor Andrew Cuomo, faces multiple charges including violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering.
Her husband, Christopher Hu, 40, was charged with money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and misuse of means of identification.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Sun allegedly used her high-ranking positions in state government to serve the interests of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party.
Prosecutors claim she blocked Taiwanese government representatives from accessing high-ranking New York state officials and altered the messaging of state officials on issues important to the Chinese government.
The indictment also alleges that Sun helped Chinese government officials travel to the U.S. and meet with New York officials by providing unauthorized invitation letters from high-level state officers.
In return, Sun allegedly received millions of dollars in transactions for her husband’s China-based business activities, event tickets, employment for her cousin in China, and even specialty food items prepared by a Chinese government official’s personal chef.
The FBI arrested the couple at their $3.5 million home in a gated community in Manhasset, Long Island. This arrest comes six weeks after FBI agents initially searched the property in July.
Avi Small, a spokesman for Governor Hochul, stated that Sun was fired in March 2023 “after discovering evidence of misconduct.” Small added that Hochul’s staff immediately reported her actions to law enforcement and have been assisting authorities with the case.
Sun’s career in New York state government spanned approximately 15 years. She held positions in Cuomo’s administration before becoming Hochul’s deputy chief of staff in September 2021, at which time she was the highest-appointed Asian American in the administration.
After leaving Hochul’s office, she briefly served as a deputy secretary in the state Labor Department.
The arrests have raised concerns about corruption and foreign influence in the Democratic Party.
As of Tuesday afternoon, it was not immediately clear if Sun and Hu had retained legal representation. They were expected to appear in federal court in Brooklyn later in the day.