TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A longtime aide to New York governors has been charged with serving as an agent for China and obstructing relations between Taiwan and the US state.
Linda Sun (孫雯), 41, a former deputy chief of staff to New York Governor Kathy Hochul and aide for former Governor Andrew Cuomo was arrested on Tuesday morning (Sept. 3) along with her husband Chris Hu (胡驍). Sun has been charged with 10 counts, including violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, money laundering, visa fraud, and bringing in illegal immigrants.
According to the indictment filed at the Brooklyn district court office, Sun maintained contact with the Chinese consulate in New York and frequently obstructed interactions between Taiwan’s diplomats and the state government. Starting in 2016, Sun allegedly followed the Chinese consulate's directives and curtailed two New York governors' interactions with Taiwan.
In exchange for pushing Beijng's agenda, Hu allegedly received assistance in facilitating millions of dollars in transactions in China. These monetary rewards allegedly enabled the couple to purchase a US$3.6 million property in New York, a US$1.9 million ocean-view condominium in Hawaii, and luxury cars.
The indictment listed 17 instances in which Sun sought to influence the New York government's policy on Taiwan at the behest of Chinese government officials.
For example, on June 9, 2016, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office invited then-Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul to attend an event in Washington DC during the SelectUSA Investment Summit.
Sun informed a Chinese official, "They sent the invitation to another colleague trying to bypass me. I am working on it right now to resolve the issue," later adding, "It’s all been taken care of satisfactorily."
Prosecutors noted that Hochul skipped the Taiwanese event and instead attended the 2016 SelectUSA Reception hosted by the Chinese embassy and the China General Chamber of Commerce - USA on June 21.
In January 2019, Sun messaged a Chinese official, saying, “I very much value my relationship with the consulate and have done many things to make the relationship between the state and the consulate flourish during my tenure with (Governor Cuomo)." She added, “Certainly I have managed to stop all relationships between the TECO and the state. I have denied all requests from their office."
A Chinese official responded, “I know and do appreciate your help." Praising Sun's role in China's influence operations, the official said, "With us now in the political section, you are the most important hub connecting us with his team.”
