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A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 4 september 2024

Former aide to 2 New York governors is charged with being an agent

of the Chinese government

ation" in China. She prom-
Continued from Front ised that she wouldn't let
that happen, and the final
Federal prosecutors said speech did not mention the
Sun, at the request of Chi- Muslim ethnic minority, ac-
nese officials, blocked cording to the indictment.
representatives of the Tai- Sun's alleged activities in
wanese government from New York paved the way
having access to the gov- for lucrative business deals
ernor's office and shaped for Hu in China, prosecutors
New York governmental said, including discussions
messaging to align with about a venture to export
the priorities of the Chinese frozen seafood to China. Hu
government, among other then attempted to conceal
things. the earnings through vari-
In return, her husband got ous methods in the U.S., ac-
help for his business activi- cording to the indictment.
ties in China — a financial At the arraignment, Assist-
boost that prosecutors Former New York Governor Kathy Hochul aide Linda Sun, right, and her husband, Christopher Hu ant U.S. Attorney Alexander
said allowed the couple to leave Brooklyn Federal Court after their arraignment, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, in New York. Sun is Solomon said there were a
charged with being an aide to the Chinese government.
buy their multimillion-dollar Associated Press "multitude of shell and busi-
property in Manhasset, ness entities" used in the
New York, a condominium the tune of millions of dol- the Chinese government. resentatives of Taiwan's crimes, adding "This is no or-
in Hawaii for $1.9 million, lars." Sun and Hu pleaded Sun, a naturalized U.S. citi- government couldn't get dinary financial fraud."
and luxury cars including a not guilty during an initial zen born in China, worked meetings with high-ranking The FBI searched the cou-
2024 Ferrari, the indictment court appearance on Tues- in state government for New York state officials. The ple's multimillion home in
says. day afternoon in Brooklyn about 15 years, holding Chinese government con- Manhasset in late July but
Sun also received smaller and will be released on jobs in Cuomo's administra- siders Taiwan to be part of declined to release details
gifts, the indictment said, bond. Sun has been barred tion and eventually becom- China. at the time.
including tickets to perform- from having any contact ing Hochul's deputy chief It also outlined a series of Sun is charged with vio-
ances by a visiting Chinese with the People's Republic of staff, according to her exchanges Sun had with of- lating the Foreign Agents
orchestra and ballet groups of China's consulate and LinkedIn profile. In Novem- ficials in the Chinese Consu- Registration Act, money
and "Nanjing-style salted mission. ber 2022, Sun took a job at late in New York in January laundering and helping
ducks" that were prepared Her defense lawyer, Jarrod the New York Department 2021, when Cuomo was still people commit visa fraud
by the personal chef of a Schaeffer, said, "We're look- of Labor, as deputy com- governor and Hochul was and enter the U.S. illegally.
Chinese government offi- ing forward to addressing missioner for strategic busi- lieutenant governor. Nei- Hu is charged with money
cial and delivered to Sun's these charges in court. Our ness development, but she ther leader is named in the laundering conspiracy,
parents' home in New York. client is understandably up- left that job months later in document, but are instead conspiracy to commit bank
If true, the allegations show set that these charges have March 2023, the profile said. referred to as "Politician-1" fraud and misuse of means
that Chinese authorities been brought." In a statement, a spokes- and "Politician-2." of identification. Neither
were able to gain influence The case is part of a broad- person for Hochul's office After Chinese officials re- has been charged with es-
at the highest levels of state er Justice Department effort said the administration fired quested a Lunar New Year pionage.
government in New York for to root out secret agents Sun after "discovering evi- video from the governor, Cuomo spokesperson Rich
nearly a decade. for the Chinese govern- dence of misconduct." Sun said Hochul could Azzopardi downplayed
"As alleged, while appear- ment operating in the Unit- "This individual was hired probably do it and asked Sun's reach in the former
ing to serve the people of ed States. In recent years, by the Executive Chamber for "talking points of things governor's administration,
New York as Deputy Chief federal authorities have more than a decade ago. you want her to mention." saying she "worked in a
of Staff within the New York charged Chinese nationals We terminated her employ- "Mostly holiday wishes and handful of agencies and
State Executive Chamber, not only with covertly ad- ment in March 2023 after hope for friendship and was one of many commu-
the defendant and her vancing Beijing's interests discovering evidence of cooperation / Nothing too nity liaisons who had little
husband actually worked but also with harassing and misconduct, immediately political," an official told to no interaction with the
to further the interests of intimidating dissidents on reported her actions to law her, according to the in- governor."
the Chinese government the government's behalf. enforcement and have dictment. Sun and Hu live in a gated
and the CCP," United States Last year, the Justice De- assisted law enforcement Sun later told a different of- community on Long Island
Attorney Breon Peace said, partment charged a pair throughout this process," ficial that she had argued called Stone Hill. The cou-
using the acronym for the of men with establishing a the statement reads. with Hochul's speechwriter ple purchased the house in
Chinese Communist Party. secret police station in New The indictment said that, over the draft, because the 2021 but placed it in a trust
"The illicit scheme enriched York City while acting under among other things, Sun speechwriter insisted on earlier this year, records
the defendant's family to the direction and control of worked to ensure that rep- mentioning the "Uyghur situ- show.q