Former NY Gov't Employee Charged With Acting as Chinese Agent While in Office
Former New York State employee Linda Sun has been charged with acting as an agent for the Chinese government while working for Governors Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul. Ms. Sun and her husband were arrested on September 3, 2024 at their New York home and charged with 10 federal counts. They pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The FBI's 65-page indictment against the former deputy chief of staff and her husband alleges Sun has been working undercover on behalf of China as early as 2016. She is charged with money laundering, violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and other charges. Neither Sun nor her husband are being charged with espionage. Instead, they are being charged with financial crimes related to their dealings with the Chinese government.
The Alleged Charges Against Sun
Federal authorities have been investigating Sun since 2019. During the investigation, officials discovered that Ms. Sun had received gifts, favors, and compensation from the Chinese government since 2016 in exchange for subtly furthering China's interests while in office.
Her alleged interference included advancing Chinese interests behind the scenes for years as well as blocking diplomatic relations between the United States and Taiwan.
In exchange for her services, Ms. Sun received millions of dollars from the Chinese government, which the couple is thought to have used to purchase their $3.6 million New York home, a 2024 Ferrari, a condominium in Hawaii, and other luxury items.
Sun's benefits were not limited to money and extended beyond benefits for herself, including her husband and family. For instance, the Chinese government hired a family member in China as a favor to Sun.
In addition, Sun's parents received luxury foods prepared by a chef affiliated with the Chinese government, payment for luxury hotel accommodations in China, tickets to events, and other perks in exchange for her service to the People's Republic of China.
A Years-Long Investigation
After looking into the incriminating acts, including messages on various platforms like WeChat and iCloud where Sun communicated with people in China regarding the illegal transactions, U.S. federal government authorities eventually felt they had enough to bring charges.
Ms. Sun and her husband pleaded not guilty to all charges and are out on bond, pending a court hearing in late September. They must remain in the country during this time, per court records.
Not a Unique Occurrence
The U.S. government has been working aggressively to root out such acts of foreign espionage. In recent years, the Communist Party of China has been increasingly targeting state and local governments as relations with the U.S. federal government have become hostile. This includes having operatives "on the ground." While some of these operations serve China's foreign interests, others are domestic, such as when New York authorities arrested two men for having a "secret police station" to get information about opponents of the Communist Party.
Related Resources
- State Money Laundering Laws (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- Criminal Charges - Espionage (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- Criminal Charges - Money Laundering (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)