Former NY Governor Aide Denies New Pandemic Fraud Charge

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    In a courtroom in New York, a former aide to two state governors made a plea of not guilty. This individual, Linda Sun, who is already accused of acting as an unauthorized agent for China, is now facing additional charges related to profiting improperly during the COVID-19 pandemic. These charges revolve around the state’s procurement of face masks and other crucial medical supplies.

    Sun, 41, and her husband, Chris Hu, 40, have both entered pleas contesting the accusations of wire fraud, bribery, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Hu is also charged with tax evasion. The couple has been released on bond and is slated to return to court on August 25, with their trial expected in November.

    Sun’s attorney, Jarrod Schaeffer, has previously dismissed these accusations as unfounded; however, he refrained from commenting after this week’s court appearance. Hu’s legal team has also denied the allegations but did not provide a statement following the recent proceedings.

    Prosecutors argue that Sun and Hu amassed millions from kickbacks by leveraging her influential role in New York’s acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic. It’s claimed that Sun, who is a naturalized citizen of the United States, tapped into her contacts in China to source this necessary equipment. Prosecutors assert she neglected to disclose her familial connections to two vendors benefiting from over $44 million in transactions.

    Prior to these developments, Sun was contested for allegedly exploiting her governmental position to further interests aligned with the Chinese government, which reportedly resulted in substantial personal gain, including support for her husband’s business activities in China.

    The prosecution argues that these gains facilitated the couple’s opulent lifestyle, characterized by ownership of multimillion-dollar properties and high-end vehicles. Sun’s employment career included tenures under former Governor Andrew Cuomo and his successor, Governor Kathy Hochul, until her dismissal in 2023.