Former New York Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Indicted for Espionage Activities

The U.S. federal prosecutors announced on the 3rd (local time) that they had⁤ indicted Linda Sun, the former deputy chief of staff to the New York governor, on charges of “engaging in espionage activities for the Chinese Communist Party.”

The FBI arrested ⁤Sun and her husband Chris Hu at their Long Island home this morning. ⁣The FBI previously searched Sun’s Long Island home two months ago,‌ but⁤ did ​not disclose details of the investigation at the time.

This ⁢time, the prosecution indicted Mr. Sun on‌ charges of visa fraud, aiding illegal immigration of foreigners, and conspiracy to launder money. Mr. Hu was charged with conspiracy to launder money, bank fraud, and abuse ⁤of identity.

Sun⁣ served in various positions ‌in New York⁢ State government during the tenures of the‌ 56th Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo ⁤(January 1,‍ 2011 – August 24, 2021)‌ and current Governor Kathy Hoekal⁤ from 2012 to 2023. From February ⁢2018⁢ to July 2020, she served as Cuomo’s Deputy ⁤Director for Diversity, and from⁤ September 2021 to September 2022, she‍ served as Hoekal’s Deputy Chief of Staff.

According to the indictment, Sun also served as the deputy director of strategic business ⁢development for the New York State Department of Labor from September 2022 ​until ⁤March 2023,​ when ‍he was fired. While working for New York City government, Sun is accused of engaging in “numerous political activities that benefited ⁣China and the Chinese Communist Party” on behalf of China and the Chinese Communist Party.

These activities included: blocking Taiwanese government representatives from accessing the New York Governor’s office; ​altering politicians’ messages on issues important‍ to China and the Chinese Communist Party; obtaining official New York State proclamations for Chinese⁤ representatives without proper authorization; arranging a visit to China by Politician 2 (Hokal); and arranging meetings between a visiting Chinese regime delegation and New York State ‌government officials.

Prosecutors alleged that Sun received ‌millions of dollars in financial and other benefits from Chinese authorities to support her husband’s China-based business activities.

“As ⁣alleged, defendant Sun and her husband appeared to serve New Yorkers in their capacity as deputy directors of the New York State Chamber of Commerce, ‍but in reality they were working for the interests of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party. They made millions of dollars through this illegal scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace of the Eastern District of New York.⁢ “We will act vigorously to prosecute anyone who acts as a secret agent of ⁤a foreign government.”

The governor’s office said in a statement: “Our employment department hired ⁤Mr. Sun 10 years ago.⁣ We discovered evidence of misconduct, terminated Mr. Sun in March of last year, and ⁢immediately reported his actions to‍ law enforcement.”

“Our national security‌ is of the utmost importance and must be free from foreign influence,” a Cuomo spokesperson⁢ said in an emailed statement. “Mr. Sun was subsequently promoted to Deputy Secretary of State in​ New ⁤York State, but during his tenure with us, he worked in a small number of agencies. He was one of several regional ⁢contacts with‌ whom the Governor had little or no interaction.”