Former NY Official Arrested for Chinese Influence

Linda Sun, a former deputy chief of staff for New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and her husband Chris Hu have been arrested and charged with acting as undisclosed agents for the Chinese government. Prosecutors allege that Sun used her position to block Taiwanese officials from accessing state resources and manipulated government messaging in favor of China, receiving financial benefits in return. The couple is accused of money laundering, visa fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, with claims they misused funds to purchase luxury properties and vehicles. Their $4.1 million home in Long Island was raided by the FBI, revealing extensive financial misconduct linked to their alleged activities with the Chinese Communist Party. Sun was terminated from her position in March 2023 after misconduct was discovered, and both she and Hu are awaiting arraignment. The indictment details how their actions violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act and enriched them significantly.