Aide to NY governors charged as Chinese agent
Linda Sun, the former aide to Kathy Hochul, has been accused of spying for the Chinese government


What happened
Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, was arrested Tuesday and charged with being an unregistered foreign agent of the Chinese government. Sun's husband, Christopher Hu, was also arrested and charged with money laundering, bank fraud and other crimes.
Who said what
Sun used her positions in New York's government, including as Hochul's deputy chief of staff, to "further the interests of the Chinese government," U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said. "The illicit scheme enriched the defendant's family to the tune of millions of dollars." Prosecutors said Sun and Hu used the Chinese payments to buy their $3.6 million Long Island house, a $1.9 million condo in Hawaii and several luxury cars, including a 2024 Ferrari. The couple also allegedly received all-expenses-paid trips to China and numerous deliveries of "Nanjing-style salted ducks" prepared by a Chinese government official's personal chef.
Hochul's office said Sun was fired in March 2023 due to "evidence of misconduct" that was "immediately reported" to law enforcement. The charges, "if true, would represent a brazen manipulation of New York State government at the highest level" by the Chinese government, The New York Times said.
What next?
Sun and Hu pleaded not guilty and were released on bond — $1.5 million for Sun, $500,000 for Hu. Their travel will be "limited to NYC, Long Island, Maine and New Hampshire," ABC7NY said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
Desert wellness in Scottsdale: the best of Arizona's Old West
The Week Recommends Boost body, mind and soul in this hub of healthy living
By Kari Wilkin, The Week UK
-
At home with the Clooneys: is arguing with your partner healthy?
The actor and his wife claim to have never argued during their 10-year marriage
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK
-
Quiz of The Week: 19 - 25 April
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff
-
'Congress could help by providing federal protections'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Trade war with China threatens U.S. economy
Feature Trump's tariff battle with China is hitting U.S. businesses hard and raising fears of a global recession
By The Week US
-
How 'China shock 2.0' will roil global markets
Feature An overflow of Chinese goods is flooding the global market. Tariffs won’t stop it.
By The Week US
-
'New firms are created to serve the economy of which they are part'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Did China sabotage British Steel?
Today's Big Question Emergency situation at Scunthorpe blast furnaces could be due to 'neglect', but caution needed, says business secretary
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Taiwan's tricky balancing act
The Explainer The island nation, no longer certain of US backing against a hostile China, is quietly looking for other solutions
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK
-
America's woes are a foreign adversary's spy recruitment dream
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As federal workers reel from mass layoffs, the United States is becoming ground zero for international adversaries eager to snatch up disgruntled spies-to-be
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Trump pauses some tariffs but ramps up China tax
Speed Read The president suspended most 'reciprocal' tariffs for 90 days and raised his tariffs for China to 125%
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US