Who is Linda Sun, the former aide to New York governors who has been accused of espionage for China?

A former senior aide to two New York governors has been charged with acting as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government, according to U.S. authorities.

Linda Sun, who served as deputy chief of staff to Governor Kathy Hochul and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, faces multiple charges alongside her husband and co-defendant, Chris Hu. Both are naturalized U.S. citizens.

This development comes amid increased scrutiny in the U.S. regarding foreign influence operations that China has denied.

What Are the Charges? Sun, 41, is charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, along with charges of visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy. Hu, 40, is also charged with money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and misusing identification means.

Federal investigators raided the couple’s Long Island home in July. Sun had been terminated from the governor’s office over a year ago after concerns were raised about her activities.

Both defendants have pleaded not guilty and are expected to be released after posting bond—$1.5 million for Sun and $500,000 for Hu. They are prohibited from contacting the Chinese consulate and embassy, and their travel is restricted to New York City, Long Island, Maine, and New Hampshire.

What Exactly Is She Accused Of Doing? Sun worked in New York state government for about 15 years, serving in Cuomo's administration before becoming Hochul’s deputy chief of staff. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York, she acted as an undisclosed agent of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party, engaging in political activities that advanced Chinese interests.

The indictment alleges that Sun obtained "unauthorized invitation letters" from the governor's office to facilitate visits from Chinese officials to New York. It also claims she hindered Taiwanese representatives from meeting high-ranking New York officials and manipulated messaging from both Cuomo and Hochul regarding matters significant to the Chinese government.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Sun reportedly ensured that Cuomo publicly thanked Chinese officials for sending ventilators while obstructing Taiwan's efforts to receive similar recognition for providing masks. She also allegedly prevented mentions of the detention of Uighurs in public speeches and included a Chinese official in a private New York government conference call about pandemic response.

How Did the Couple Benefit? U.S. officials contend that Sun and Hu significantly benefited from these influence operations. Sun is accused of arranging millions of dollars in business deals for Hu’s China-connected company. They allegedly used these benefits to purchase a $4.1 million home in a gated Long Island community, as well as a $2.1 million condominium in Honolulu and several luxury vehicles, including a 2024 Ferrari.

Authorities stated that the couple received event tickets, secured employment for Sun’s cousin in China, and received special food deliveries from a chef associated with a Chinese government official.

Reactions to the Charges Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, dismissed the allegations, claiming that similar cases in the past have collapsed. He stated that the U.S. has often exaggerated the narrative of "Chinese agents," many of which have been disproven.

Governor Hochul expressed her shock and outrage, describing the alleged actions as a betrayal of trust. She stated that Sun was fired in March 2023 as soon as misconduct was discovered, although details were not disclosed.

Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, emphasized the need for national security to remain free from foreign influence, noting that Sun had limited interaction with the governor during her tenure.

U.S.-China Accusations of Espionage Accusations of espionage and foreign influence between the U.S. and China are longstanding, with both nations alleging that the other seeks to gather intelligence and manipulate decision-making processes. Tensions have escalated amid China’s growing global influence and ambition to rival the U.S.

In recent years, both countries have increased arrests of individuals accused of espionage, particularly in military and technology sectors. The most recent publicized incident involved accusations from the U.S. regarding Chinese balloons allegedly conducting surveillance, which China claimed were merely weather balloons.

In a January article, CIA Director William Burns noted that the agency is enhancing its efforts to counter geopolitical competition with China, to which the Chinese Ministry of State Security responded by highlighting increased CIA spending focused on China.