Ex-New York governor aide and spouse hit with fresh accusations in China foreign agent case

NEW YORK – Additional charges have been filed against Linda Sun, a former aide to two New York governors, and her husband, Chris Hu, in a case involving allegations of her acting as a representative of the Chinese government.

During a recent hearing in federal court in Brooklyn, both Sun and Hu entered not guilty pleas to these charges, as reported by prosecutors. Sun, who is a naturalized citizen in the U.S. originally from China, has had an extensive career in New York state government over the past 15 years, which included roles such as deputy chief of staff to Governor Kathy Hochul and serving as deputy diversity officer under former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

According to prosecutors, Sun allegedly advanced Chinese government interests within New York state, including obstructing access for Taiwanese government officials to the governor’s office, at the request of Chinese officials. In exchange for her actions, Hu reportedly benefited in his business endeavors in China.

Last year, Sun was indicted on multiple counts including violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and facilitating visa fraud that enabled unauthorized individuals to enter the U.S. Hu faced charges of conspiracy to launder money, bank fraud, and misuse of identification. Recently, the money laundering conspiracy charge against both individuals was revised to incorporate additional legal statutes. Hu has pleaded not guilty to three more counts related to money laundering.

Details regarding Hu’s additional charges were not specified, though they pertain to three financial transactions from 2020 amounting to $1.5 million. Federal prosecutors declined to comment further on the charges besides what was outlined in the updated indictment.

Jarrod Schaeffer, one of Sun’s defense attorneys, stated that the updated indictment does not introduce any new allegations against his client, nor does it rectify significant errors in the previous indictment. Responses from Hu’s legal team regarding the situation were not immediately available.

Both Sun and Hu, who have been released on bond, are expected to return to court on April 23. Prosecutors have suggested that the couple’s dealings with Chinese officials assisted them in acquiring high-value properties, including a home worth $3.6 million on Long Island and a nearly $2 million condo in Hawaii, along with luxury vehicles. Additionally, Sun reportedly accepted smaller gifts, such as tickets to Chinese performances and local delicacies.

In motions seeking to have the charges dismissed, Sun’s lawyers argue that their client has been unfairly targeted due to her wealth and ethnic background. The motion asserts that the government has mischaracterized Sun’s circumstances by implying that her success and her ties to Chinese individuals indicate her compliance with nefarious motives from China.

Conversely, prosecutors argue that the motion to dismiss is premature, asserting that the indictment is replete with factual information supporting the allegations. They indicated that Sun failed to register as a foreign agent and actively concealed her actions on behalf of China. They also claimed that during a voluntary interview, Sun misrepresented the intent of her trip to China and omitted that it had been arranged and financed by Chinese authorities.

This case is part of a more extensive Justice Department initiative aimed at identifying individuals acting as covert agents for the Chinese government, which U.S. officials claim undermines American interests and targets Chinese dissidents residing within the United States.