Linda Sun, a former deputy chief of staff to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday, facing charges of working as an influence agent for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The unsealed indictment, issued by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, alleges that Sun, along with her husband Chris Hu, engaged in illegal activities to further the interests of the Chinese government while holding positions in the administrations of both Governor Hochul and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Sun, 41, and Hu, 40, were apprehended at their $3.6 million Long Island home. The couple has been charged with 10 criminal counts, including acting as unregistered agents of the Chinese government, receiving millions of dollars through businesses linked to the Chinese government, and money laundering. According to the 64-page indictment, the couple used the funds to purchase luxury items, including their Long Island home, a $1.9 million condominium in Honolulu, and a 2024 Ferrari.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace highlighted the severity of the allegations, stating, “As alleged, while appearing to serve the people of New York, the defendant and her husband actually worked to further the interests of the Chinese government and the CCP, enriching themselves to the tune of millions of dollars.”
Both Sun and Hu pleaded not guilty to the charges in federal court in Brooklyn. Bail was set at $1.5 million for Sun and $500,000 for Hu, with restrictions placed on their travel.
The indictment details how Sun, under the direction of Chinese officials, influenced state government actions to align with the PRC’s political goals. This included blocking Taiwanese representatives from accessing the governor’s office, altering official statements to favor Chinese positions, and securing unauthorized proclamations for the Chinese government.
One notable instance mentioned in the indictment is a 2016 communication in which Sun informed a Chinese Consulate official that she had successfully prevented Governor Hochul from attending a Taiwanese event, redirecting her to a Chinese Embassy reception instead. The indictment also includes a photograph of Sun participating in a protest against the Taiwanese president’s visit to New York City.
The influence activities extended to arranging a potential visit to China for Governor Hochul and organizing meetings between visiting Chinese officials and state representatives. Sun, who was born in China and later naturalized as an American citizen, worked in the New York state government from 2012 to 2023.
This case, if confirmed, would represent one of the most significant instances of high-level Chinese government influence operations targeting a U.S. state government. The indictment refers to Governors Cuomo and Hochul as “Politician 1” and “Politician 2” respectively.
