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NEW York Governor Kathy Hochul’s former aide has been accused of enjoying a lavish lifestyle while working as a Chinese agent.
Linda Sun, 41, who worked under Hochul and her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, has been charged with conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
The former aide of New York Governor Kathy Hochul reportedly received lavish gifts from the Chinese government[/caption]
Her husband, Christopher Hu, 40, was also slapped with charges including visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy, according to a recently unsealed indictment.
The filing accuses the couple of acting “in the interest” of the Chinese Communist Party in exchange for millions of dollars used to buy a $4.1 million mansion in Long Island and another $2 million property in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Other gifts included a massive collection of luxury cars such as a 2024 Ferrari Roma.
“Linda Sun, a former New York State government employee, acted as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government while her husband, Christopher Hu, facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars in kickbacks for personal gain,” said federal officials.
“Sun wielded her position of influence among executives to covertly promote People’s Republic of China and CCP agendas, directly threatening our country’s national security.
“Sun is alleged to be an undisclosed agent of the PRC and CCP, using Chinese money and her influence within the state of New York to benefit the Chinese government.”
LAP OF LUXURY
Sun and Hu were also treated to a personal chef, according to the indictment, who served the couple Nanjing-style salted ducks that were delivered to Sun’s parents’ home.
The family reportedly received six ducks from the chef around July 28, 2021, and received another six that November, said officials.
By March 15, 2022, the couple got even more of the dishes and got another batch in November of that year, read court documents.
Sun and her family also received concert tickets for events such as the Chinese National Traditional Orchestra concert at Carnegie Hall in December 2015, read the indictment.
They also received six tickets for the Guangzhou Ballet performance at Lincoln Center in August 2019.
Feds reported that Chinese officials also gifted Sun with VIP tickets to a sporting event in August 2022.
She reportedly also received free travel to China, which included a presidential hotel suite that had been previously used by First Lady Michelle Obama during a stay in Beijing.
What we know…
- Linda Sun, a former employee of the administrations of Governor Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo, was arrested at her home on Long Island on Tuesday morning.
- Sun’s husband, Christopher Hu, was also arrested.
- The couple are accused of acting as foreign agents for the Chinese Communist Party, prosecutors said.
- Federal officials said Sun used her position in the New York State executive chamber to “influence and secretly promote” Chinese agendas.
- Governor Kathy Hochul’s office told The U.S. Sun they fired Sun in March 2023 after the administration discovered “evidence of misconduct.”
Hu’s business dealings in China also benefited from his wife’s supposed political dealings, generating millions that he sent into the US as part of a money laundering plot, according to court docs.
Meanwhile, his seafood company and wine store in Queens, New York made little money, the docs read.
The couple made exorbitant purchases despite making modest incomes on paper.
Their properties and cars have been seized by prosecutors along with roughly $210,000 in cash from various accounts.
The couple bought their Long Island home in 2021, however, placed the house in a trust in early 2024, the documents read.
Sun worked as then-Governor Cuomo’s liaison to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in Queens in 2012.
Who is Linda Sun?
Linda Sun, who previously served as New York Governor Kathy Hochul's deputy chief of staff, was arrested on September 3, 2024 by FBI officials.
Sun’s husband, Chris Hu, was also arrested. The couple was charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy.
Who is Linda Sun?
- Sun, 40, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Barnard College.
- She earned a master’s degree from Teachers College at Columbia University, according to her LinkedIn profile.
- Sun has 14 years of experience in state government, starting as chief of staff for then-Assemblyman Grace Meng.
- In 2012, she joined Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration as a liaison to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in Queens.
- In 2015, she worked for Empire State Development.
- Three years later, she rejoined Cuomo’s team in the executive chamber as deputy chief diversity officer.
- In September 2021, she joined Governor Kathy Hochul’s team as deputy chief of staff.
- After 15 months, she left to work for the New York State Department of Labor.
- Sun was fired in 2023 after the department discovered “evidence of misconduct.”
In 2018, she moved to the Department of Financial Services before transitioning into Hochul’s team in September 2021.
She served under Hochul’s administration for roughly 15 months before leaving for the New York State’s Department of Labor in November 2022.
However, she was fired from the Department of Labor in March 2023, following an investigation that discovered “evidence of misconduct,” a spokesperson for Governor Hochul told The U.S. Sun.
“We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement and have assisted law enforcement throughout this process,” the spokesperson added.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Hochul’s office for comment.
She and her husband, Christopher Hu, 40, have been slammed with several charges[/caption]
Sun worked in Hochul’s administration for a little over a year before leaving[/caption]
