Ex-Queens political player accused of secretly acting as Chinese agent — Queens Daily Eagle

By Ryan Schwach

A former top aide to the governor’s office with ties to Queens was charged Tuesday with allegedly trying to secretly influence New York officials at the behest of the Chinese government.

Linda Sun, a former top executive chamber official who once led the governor’s efforts on Asian affairs in Queens, appeared before a federal judge on Tuesday and now faces a series of charges alleging she used her role in government to act on behalf of Chinese government officials.

According to the 64-page indictment, Sun used her role between 2016 and 2022 to manipulate former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s policies related to China and Taiwan, and was rewarded for her actions by the Chinese government.

Sun was charged with 10 counts, including violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.

Her husband, Chris Hu, was also charged with money laundering, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and improper use of identification.

“As alleged, while appearing to serve the people of New York … the defendant and her husband actually worked to advance the interests of the Chinese government and the (Chinese Communist Party),” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. “The unlawful scheme enriched the defendant’s family by millions of dollars.”

The couple has connections in Queens. Hu had businesses in the borough, including a liquor store, and Sun previously worked for current Rep. Grace Meng when she was a member of the state Assembly.

In 2012, Cuomo hired Sun to become his administration’s liaison to local Asian American communities, specifically in Queens. She later became director of external affairs for Empire State Development’s Global NY program, a position that included leading trade and investment missions to five different countries each year, according to her LinkedIn profile.

According to the indictment, Sun began acting on behalf of Chinese Communist Party operatives in 2016 while working for the Cuomo administration.

On numerous occasions, Sun prevented Taiwanese officials from meeting or communicating with either administration on the orders of Chinese officials.

China does not recognize Taiwan as a nation, and neither does the United States.

Neither Cuomo nor Hochul had expressed an explicit policy, and often turned to Sun when trying to address the hot-button political issue, the indictment says.

Sun at times blocked Hochul and Cuomo from communicating with Taiwan’s de facto embassy, ​​and also barred them from making appearances at Taiwanese events.

In January 2019, Sun reportedly boasted about his work helping China and preventing Taiwan from making inroads into Albany.

“I value my relationship with the consulate very much and have done many things to make the relationship between the state and the consulate flourish during my tenure with (Cuomo),” Sun wrote in a text message to a Chinese official. “I have certainly succeeded in stopping all relations between (Taiwan) and the state.”

Going further, Sun approved the language of the official statements from Cuomo and Hochul.

In August 2019, he amended a Cuomo statement commemorating soldiers and veterans of the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries to avoid any recognition of Taiwan itself.

In 2021, when Hochul was governor, Sun allegedly allowed one of her Chinese government contacts to help draft and edit a statement from the governor regarding the Lunar New Year.

“Can you share with me some talking points on things you want her to mention?” Sun wrote to the contact. “I can make sure to include them in her comments.”

The contact asked him to remove from the statement any reference to the plight of the Uighurs, a Muslim minority in China that has faced widespread prejudice and prosecution.

Hochul made no reference to Uighurs in that 2021 Lunar New Year statement.

On two occasions in 2019, Sun also allegedly forged invitation letters from Hochul so that Chinese government officials could enter the United States for meetings.

In 2022, Sun was transferred to the Department of Labor, where she reportedly continued to work on behalf of China, performing tasks outside the scope of her position at the department.

FBI officials said Sun’s actions threatened U.S. national security.

“Sun used his position of influence among executives to covertly advance the agendas of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party, directly threatening our country’s national security,” said Acting FBI Assistant Director Christie Curtis. “In exchange for these actions, Sun received a generous reward.”

She and her husband received millions in travel benefits, tickets, gourmet meals, luxury cars including a Ferrari, a $3.6 million home on Long Island and a $2 million high-rise apartment in Hawaii, according to prosecutors.

Sun and Hu are accused of laundering money and benefits they received from Sun’s Chinese agents.

In response to Sun’s arrest on Tuesday, Hochul’s office said she was fired as soon as they learned of her misconduct.

“This individual was hired by the Executive Chamber more than a decade ago,” said press secretary Avi Small. “We terminated her employment in March 2023 after uncovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement, and have assisted law enforcement throughout the process.”

Representatives for Meng’s office did not respond to comments Tuesday, but another Queens elected official, state Sen. John Liu, defended Sun.

“The federal government has a sordid history of bringing charges against accomplished Chinese Americans, then dropping all charges, with no regard for the lives and careers needlessly destroyed,” he said in a statement. “I have worked with Linda Sun for many years and have only known her for her diligence, professionalism, and conscientiousness, and she is absolutely innocent until proven guilty.”

Sun and Hu pleaded not guilty at their arraignment on Tuesday and are due back in court on Sept. 25.