Linda Sun, previously employed under New York Governor Kathy Hochul, faces serious allegations including acting covertly for the Chinese government.
Fox News reported that authorities apprehended Linda Sun on charges of espionage and multiple other accusations after uncovering her secretive dealings.
Investigators revealed Sun’s problematic involvements during a probe that uncovered her role in orchestrating unapproved engagements between representatives from China and the New York State government.
The Justice Department implicated Linda Sun, and authorities arrested her earlier this month alongside her husband Chris Hu, for violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, conducting visa fraud, smuggling aliens, and planning a money laundering conspiracy. Before authorities discovered her illicit activities, Sun had unrestricted access within Governor Hochul’s office, where her misconduct led to her job termination in March 2023.
Sun acquired substantial properties in New York and Hawaii, totaling about $6 million, and prosecutors suspect the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) financed them. Prosecutors assert that Sun orchestrated multiple shadowy dealings, facilitating travel and meetings for People’s Republic of China (PRC) officials in the United States through unauthorized channels.
Earlier in May, to the obliviousness of others about her ongoing investigation, Linda Sun attended a tour of the White House. The visit, facilitated by Representative Grace Meng from Queens, was part of a routine public tour offering. This access enabled Sun to traverse the White House's historical rooms, although it ensured no contact with confidential areas or information.
Although no one detected her covert activities until recently, congressional offices coordinated the White House tour through standard conventions.
Moreover, Meng's spokesperson said, "Obviously, nobody knew anything about what she is now accused of doing, which remains deeply troubling and shocking."
After her arrest, allegations against Sun detailed how she worked to block Taiwanese governmental interactions with New York officials and took on political duties that prominently benefited the CCP and PRC. Authorities disclosed that she used her role in New York to facilitate operations aligned with Chinese interests, extensively breaching her official obligations.
According to the federal indictment, Linda Sun engaged in numerous political activities favoring the interests of the PRC and CCP. This included prohibiting representatives of the Taiwanese government from accessing the New York State Governor’s office and accepting considerable benefits from the CCP, in terms of economic rewards and luxurious assets.
A statement from Hochul’s office outlined their immediate action upon the discovery of Sun’s misconduct, affirming their cooperation with law enforcement throughout the investigation. "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 case paints a troubling scenario of infiltration within a high level of state governance, highlighting a severe breach of trust and protocols. Sun’s actions not only jeopardized state confidentiality but also posed significant national security concerns, given her unauthorized engagements and the subsequent access to sensitive locations such as the White House.
To conclude, Linda Sun's arrest and the accusations against her bring forward the intricate and clandestine operations she managed, leveraging her governmental role for foreign advantages while exploiting the American political landscape. The investigation and subsequent developments shed light on the complex network Sun orchestrated, underlining the continuing efforts to safeguard national and state security against espionage activities.
