Former aide to N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul arrested, FBI says
NEW YORK - A former aide to New York Governors Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo was arrested by the FBI Tuesday morning, the FBI said.
Linda Sun, a former deputy chief of staff, was arrested, along with her husband Chris Hu, the FBI said.
It happened Tuesday morning at their multimillion dollar home in Manhasset on Long Island.
The couple will be charged with violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The law requires individuals to register with the Justice Department if they are involved in advocacy work for a foreign government - in this case, China.
Approximately six weeks ago, FBI agents staged a pre-dawn raid of the $3.5 million Long Island home belonging to Sun and Hsu, who owns a Flushing liquor store.
At the time, it was unclear what the feds were looking for. The raid was notable because Sun worked for two New York governors, starting in 2012 with Cuomo and most recently as a deputy chief of staff for Hochul.
"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."
"This individual 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.
Read the indictment
Linda Sun, Chris Hu FARA indictment by CBSNewYork Scribd on Scribd
Allegations include alleged forgery, sources say
Evidence of misconduct was discovered while Sun worked at New York's Department of Labor, sources said. There are allegations she forged Hochul's name on a letter to the Chinese government, according to sources.
She reportedly also tried to help a Chinese company win a pandemic-related contract while employed by Cuomo.
The U.S. Attorney in Brooklyn has reportedly been investigating the involvement of the Chinese government in city and state affairs.
The FBI has also conducted raids in the Bronx homes owned by Winnie Greco, the director of Asian affairs in the Adams administrations.
They are also reportedly investigating the New World Mall on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, the site of several fundraising events for Mayor Eric Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign.
Asked about the raid, Adams said he was focused on his job, not the probe.
"Whenever there is an inquiry, the review must be done. That's the process. My job is to stay focused on running the city. I'm not going to remove trash off the streets and keep the city safe from violence if I'm distracted," Adams said in March.
