Linda Sun, who previously served as Hochul’s chief of staff, is accused of working on behalf of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to a newly unsealed federal indictment. Sun, 41, who also worked for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, faces additional charges, including visa fraud, alien smuggling, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Her husband, Christopher Hu, has been indicted on related charges, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud and misuse of identification. FBI agents arrested the couple on the morning of Sept. 3. The indictment alleges that Sun exploited her public service role to advance the interests of the PRC and the CCP. Among the cited activities are efforts to block Taiwanese representatives from meeting with high-level New York State officials, altering official communications to align with Chinese government priorities, and arranging meetings between PRC officials and New York State representatives. According to the indictment, Sun’s activities extended beyond political influence. She is accused of providing “improper benefits” to the Chinese government, including unauthorized invitation letters that enabled PRC officials to enter the U.S. under false pretenses. These letters, issued in violation of New York State protocols, facilitated the illegal entry of Chinese officials into the country for meetings with state officials. The indictment comes six weeks after a pre-dawn raid by federal authorities on the couple’s $4.1 million, five-bedroom home in Long Island just over a month ago. “Sun wielded her position of influence among executives to covertly promote PRC and CCP agendas, directly threatening our country’s national security,” FBI Acting Assistant Director Christie M. Curtis said in a statement accompanying the indictments. In return for her efforts, Sun allegedly received substantial financial rewards and other benefits from the PRC and CCP. These included facilitating multimillion-dollar transactions for her husband’s business ventures in China, luxury travel, and expensive gifts, including a $2.1 million condominium in Honolulu, and luxury vehicles, including a 2024 Ferrari. Sun did not disclose any benefits received from Chinese officials to the New York State government, as required by law for government employees. The couple allegedly laundered the proceeds through various means, including bank accounts set up under false identities. “As alleged, while appearing to serve the people of New York as Deputy Chief of Staff within the New York State Executive Chamber, the defendant and her husband actually worked to further the interests of the Chinese government and the CCP,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said. “The illicit scheme enriched the defendant’s family to the tune of millions of dollars. Our Office will act decisively to prosecute those who serve as undisclosed agents of a foreign government.” "[Sun] was hired by the Executive Chamber more than a decade ago. We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement and have assisted law enforcement throughout this process,” Hochul’s press secretary, Avi Small, said in a statement to CNN. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section.A former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has been charged with acting as an agent of the Chinese government.
