In a dramatic twist, Linda Sun, a former deputy chief of staff for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, is now facing serious charges for allegedly acting as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government.
The arrest, which took place on Tuesday morning at Sun’s lavish $3.5 million Long Island residence, has sent shockwaves through New York’s political circles. According to the Associated Press, Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, both found themselves in handcuffs as federal authorities closed in on the couple.
The allegations against Sun are serious and far-reaching. Prosecutors claim that, at the behest of Chinese officials, Sun used her position to block representatives from Taiwan’s government from accessing key state figures.
If that wasn’t enough, it’s alleged she also worked to alter official messaging related to China and even attempted to facilitate a high-profile trip to China for a prominent New York politician. It’s a jaw-dropping accusation that paints a picture of manipulation at the highest levels of state government. As for her husband, Hu, he faces charges of money laundering conspiracy, bank fraud conspiracy, and misuse of identification.
BREAKING: Former Deputy Chief of Staff to NY Gov Kathy Hochul, Linda Sun, and her husband Chris Hu, are charged with acting as agents of the Chinese government.
Sun allegedly blocked reps of the Taiwanese government from meeting with state officials and her husband received… pic.twitter.com/Mzde9TquA5
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 3, 2024
While Tuesday’s arrests are making headlines, Sun has been on law enforcement’s radar for quite some time. Earlier this year, the FBI raided her home, signaling that investigators had been gathering evidence for months before finally bringing charges. Footage of the raid only adds to the intensity surrounding this case.
Sun's political career is no small footnote either. She’s spent 15 years working in New York’s state government, beginning her career in the administration of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo before rising to become Hochul’s deputy chief of staff. But the unfolding drama took a sharp turn in March 2023, when Hochul's office discovered evidence of Sun’s alleged misconduct.
In a statement released to reporters, Gov. Hochul’s office didn’t mince words. “This individual was hired by the Executive Chamber more than a decade ago.
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 statement reads.