Since her indictment was announced, not much was known about Linda Sun except she’s accused of being an agent for China. The press has been digging for details. Now we know things like when the Democrat visited Beijing in the winter of 2018, “a Chinese businessman based in the U.S. made travel arrangements for her and reserved a presidential suite once used by First Lady Michelle Obama.”
An agent for China
The Chinese agent and former aide to governors Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul went back to Beijing the following year. Sun “exchanged correspondence with the same businessman and discussed her possible attendance to a military parade, ultimately attending a reception to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.”
She didn’t go the next year because in the summer of 2020, “the FBI summoned Sun for an interview.”
The 41-year-old was born in China but emigrated to America and went to work for the State of New York. Without bothering to register as a foreign agent, the alleged mole did her best to influence state policy in favor of Chinese interests, working from the inside.
“Her roles included being deputy chief of staff for Gov. Kathy Hochul and an aide to the administration of Hochul’s predecessor, Governor Andrew Cuomo, starting in 2012.”
She was fired in 2023 and now faces “a host of charges.” Her husband was indicted for similar activity. Now, “New York state government is grappling with having employed an alleged agent for the Chinese government.” The big question is “why it took so long to bring charges.”
The only thing anyone can think of to explain the delay is “the difficulty and time it takes for investigators to obtain evidence.” Both Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, proclaim total innocence. Their lawyers are calling the charges “the result of overly aggressive investigations.”
Blocked Taiwanese officials
Ms. Sun was perfectly positioned as a Chinese sleeper cell. She “held several positions in state government, including director of Asian American affairs.”
According to federal prosecutors, the secret agent “consistently blocked Taiwanese officials from having access to New York officials.” She also “directed messaging to ensure that Taiwan was seldom mentioned or acknowledged in remarks.”
At one point, Sun “gloated to Chinese consular staff that she was effective in keeping Taiwanese requests from being fulfilled.” We have something called the Foreign Agents Registration Act. She could have registered as an agent to keep everything on the up and up but she didn’t.
Now, she’s accused of money laundering, visa fraud and alien smuggling. Not to mention conspiracy. On top of FARA violations.
Four years after they interviewed her about her ties to China, they came back to visit the undercover agent of the communist party at her $3.6 million home “situated on a manicured cul-de-sac in the north shore of Long Island.” A month after that, they came back and put her and her husband under arrest.
“Hu was also charged with money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit bank fraud as well as misusing means of identification.” Their help to the Chinese paid well. “Sun and her husband enriched themselves and received lavish gifts, as well as successfully promoting their relatives’ businesses both in the U.S. and China in addition to securing employment for their relatives within the Chinese government.“
