Arcadia Mayor Pleads Guilty in Chinese Agent Scandal

Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, California, has agreed to plead guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government. She resigned from her position after being charged with promoting pro-Chinese propaganda without notifying the U.S. government. Her plea follows a similar case involving her former colleague.

Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, Southern California, agreed to plead guilty as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, authorities announced on Monday. Wang is stepping down from her position following charges that accused her of acting on behalf of foreign officials by promoting pro-Chinese government content.

The 58-year-old mayor, elected in November 2022, faces a maximum 10-year federal prison sentence after being charged in April. Officials clarified that no public resources were involved in her conduct which ended after she took office in December 2022.

Working with Yaoning "Mike" Sun, Wang ran a news website aimed at the Chinese American community, disseminating pro-PRC propaganda. Her resignation and admission come amid heightened scrutiny of foreign influence in U.S. politics, as similar charges have implicated other individuals.