Former Aide to NY Governors Charged as 'Secret Agent' for China

Linda Sun, former aide to ex-New York Governors Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo, has been charged with acting as a secret agent for China. Sun and her husband face multiple charges including visa fraud and money laundering. Both pleaded not guilty, with bail set at $1.5 million for Sun and $500,000 for her husband.

Linda Sun, a former aide to former New York Governors Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo, has been charged with acting as a 'secret agent' for the Chinese government, according to CNN, citing a statement from U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. An unsealed indictment reveals that Sun, who served as deputy chief of staff for both governors, faces multiple charges, including violating the Foreign Agents Registrations Act, visa fraud, smuggling, and a money laundering conspiracy.

Chris Hu, Sun's husband and co-defendant, also faces charges of conspiring to launder money, committing bank fraud, and misusing means of identification, prosecutors said. Federal investigators raided the couple's home in July, CNN reported.

Prosecutors allege that Sun acted as "an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government," while Hu facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars in kickbacks for personal gain. The couple was arrested at their Long Island residence on Tuesday morning.

Both Sun and her husband pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal court on Tuesday. A judge set bail at $1.5 million for Sun and $500,000 for Hu, with restrictions on their travel confined to New York City, Long Island, Maine, and New Hampshire. Prosecutors detailed the couple's alleged use of secret communication methods and shell companies to execute their crimes during the hearing.

Prosecutors claim the defendants used iCloud accounts, WeChat messages in Mandarin, and other tactics to conceal their activities. Defense attorney Seth DuCharme expressed confidence in their case, stating, "We have a lot of confidence in our case." He added that many allegations in the indictment are "perplexing" and "overly inflammatory," and said both defendants are eager for a speedy trial. Their next status conference is scheduled for September 25.

Hochul's press secretary, Avi Small, said in a statement to CNN, "Sun was hired by the Executive Chamber over a decade ago. We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct and immediately reported her actions to law enforcement." Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, emphasized that national security "must be free from foreign influence," noting that Sun, during their administration, worked in a handful of agencies with minimal interaction with the governor.

(With inputs from agencies.)