A former top aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Linda Sun, and her husband, Christopher Hu, have been arrested in connection with a bombshell federal indictment. The arrests follow an FBI raid of their Long Island home in Manhasset earlier this summer. The indictment charges Sun with acting as an unregistered agent of China, a development that has sent shockwaves through political circles in New York.
Linda Sun, who previously served as a deputy chief of staff to Governor Hochul and held a position at the New York State Department of Labor, was reportedly fired from her role due to evidence of misconduct. The New York Post reports that her termination came after internal investigations uncovered troubling activities, although these were not initially linked to the current federal charges.
According to the 64-page indictment unsealed this morning, Sun is accused of using her position to block representatives from Taiwan’s government from meeting with the New York governor’s office. The indictment further alleges that Sun and her husband made millions of dollars through their activities as unregistered foreign agents for China. Prosecutors claim that the couple laundered these illicit earnings to purchase a multi-million-dollar home on Long Island.
The charges have raised serious concerns about national security and the integrity of state government operations. Acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, particularly one with strained relations with the United States, is a grave offense that carries significant penalties. The indictment details how Sun allegedly leveraged her access to state government channels to further the interests of the Chinese government, while simultaneously obstructing diplomatic efforts involving Taiwan.
Sun and Hu were taken into custody on Tuesday morning and are scheduled to appear in Brooklyn federal court this afternoon. The case is expected to draw widespread attention as it unfolds, given its implications for U.S.-China relations and the potential impact on Governor Hochul’s administration.
Governor Kathy Hochul has not yet publicly commented on the arrests, but sources close to the administration indicate that the governor is cooperating fully with federal authorities. The arrests mark a dramatic turn of events in what was already a contentious political environment in New York, where corruption investigations have become increasingly common.
As the legal process begins, further details are likely to emerge about the extent of Sun’s alleged activities and the broader network of influence she may have been involved in. For now, the indictment serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing risks of foreign interference in U.S. political and governmental affairs.
