A former senior aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul has been charged with acting as a secret agent for the Chinese government, sending shockwaves through New York City’s political establishment.
Linda Sun, who served as Hochul’s deputy chief of staff, faces eight criminal charges for allegedly using her influential position to advance Beijing’s interests while receiving millions in bribes, federal prosecutors announced last month.
The indictment alleged Sun systematically blocked Taiwanese officials’ access to the New York governor’s office and targeted Chinese diaspora communities critical of the Chinese Communist Party.
Sun was also accused of providing Hochul’s signature on a Chinese government document handed by a consul official from Henan Province, China.
Prosecutors say she maintained undisclosed relationships with Chinese government officials throughout her tenure.
Sun allegedly misrepresented the purposes of several trips to China and concealed key information about her interactions with Chinese officials.
Sun claimed these activities were part of her job to help the Chinese diaspora community in the United States.
“This is a betrayal of New Yorkers and the American people,” a visibly shaken Gov. Hochul declared at a Manhattan press conference.
The governor expressed shock at allegations that Sun had forged her signature on documents advancing CCP interests.
The charges paint a picture of lavish rewards for Sun’s alleged espionage.
Prosecutors say Chinese officials facilitated the purchase of multiple properties, including a Manhattan residence, a multimillion-dollar Long Island home and a Hawaii apartment.
Sun and her husband also allegedly bought several luxury vehicles, including a 2024 Ferrari.
Sun’s political rise began as chief diversity officer under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo before her promotion under Hochul’s administration.
However, the indictment claimed that while promoting diversity and inclusion, Sun worked to suppress New York’s Uyghur Muslim community and silence discussion of issues deemed sensitive by Beijing.
Sun’s case is not unprecedented. Similar cases have emerged in recent years, with the Chinese government allegedly attempting to co-opt high-ranking officials through financial incentives while setting up covert police operations abroad to silence critics.
Notably, Shujun Wang, one of the organizers of a pro-democracy organization in Queens, was arrested and convicted of acting and conspiring to act as a secret agent for the Chinese government and disclosing the organization’s information.
Back in 2023, the FBI also arrested two agents who allegedly served as the Chinese secret police, and they were accused of consistently monitoring and harassing Chinese dissidents.
