A former aide to two New York governors, along with her husband, face additional charges in an ongoing federal case accusing her of secretly acting as an agent of the Chinese government.
Linda Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, pleaded not guilty during a hearing Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court. Prosecutors said the money laundering charge against both had been amended to include additional legal statutes.
Sun, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China, spent approximately 15 years working in New York state government, holding key positions, including deputy chief of staff to Governor Kathy Hochul and deputy diversity officer under former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Federal prosecutors allege that Sun, at the direction of Chinese officials, worked to advance Beijing’s interests within New York state government, including efforts to block representatives of the Taiwanese government from accessing the governor’s office. In exchange, prosecutors charge, her husband, Hu, received business assistance from Chinese authorities for his various ventures.
Newsweek has reached out to Hochul’s office on Tuesday night for comment.
Why It Matters
The case is part of a broader Justice Department effort to expose secret Chinese government operatives accused of advancing Beijing’s interests and harassing dissidents in the U.S.
What To Know
Sun was initially charged last year with violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and aiding visa fraud and illegal entry into the U.S. Hu faced charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering, bank fraud, and misuse of means of identification.
Hu also pleaded not guilty to three new money laundering counts related to financial transactions in 2020 totaling $1.5 million.
The updated indictment did not provide further details on accusations of financial crimes leveled at Hu. Federal prosecutors declined to comment beyond the information included in the indictment. Sun’s attorney, Jarrod Schaeffer, dismissed the amended indictment as failing to correct what he called “critical errors” in the original case. Lawyers for Hu did not respond to requests for comment.
Prosecutors claim that financial benefits provided by Chinese officials helped Sun and Hu purchase a $3.6 million home on Long Island, a nearly $2 million condominium in Hawaii and multiple luxury vehicles. Sun allegedly also received gifts, including tickets to Chinese performances and specialty food items.
Sun’s defense argues that she has been unfairly targeted due to her wealth and ethnicity. Her lawyers claim that prosecutors wrongfully assume a person of Chinese descent who accepts unreported gifts from other Chinese individuals must be working for Beijing. Prosecutors have rejected this claim, stating Sun deliberately concealed her activities, failed to register as a foreign agent and misled FBI agents about her China-related travel.
What People Are Saying
Sun’s lawyers argued in a motion seeking to dismiss the charges that she had been unfairly targeted because of her affluence and ethnic background: “In the government’s view, Ms. Sun and her family simply have too much and so there must be a nefarious reason. Sputtering about state ethics rules and undisclosed gifts, the government eventually reached the conclusion that when a woman of Chinese heritage allegedly receives unreported gifts from other Chinese individuals, she must be bought and paid for by China.”
The Department of Justice said in a September 2024 news release: “Sun and Hu laundered the monetary proceeds of this scheme to purchase, among other items, real estate property in Manhasset, New York currently valued at $4.1 million, a condominium in Honolulu, Hawaii currently valued at $2.1 million, and various luxury automobiles, including a 2024 Ferrari.”
What Happens Next
Sun and Hu remain free on bond and are scheduled to return to court on April 23.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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