Former Southern California mayor Eileen Wang pleaded guilty on Friday to acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government, admitting to sharing Beijing-friendly articles without notifying U.S. authorities.
Guilty Plea in Federal Court
Wang, 56, who resigned as mayor of Arcadia earlier this month, appeared in downtown Los Angeles federal court to enter her plea. Charged in April with one count of acting as an illegal foreign agent, she faces up to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Sentencing is set for October 6. Wang remains free on a $25,000 bond.
U.S. District Judge Wesley Hsu conducted procedural questioning to ensure Wang understood her rights. A Mandarin interpreter was present, but Wang declined assistance.
Background of the Case
Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022, from which the mayor is selected on a rotating basis. Prosecutors say her illegal conduct occurred from late 2020 to 2022, before she took office—a point emphasized by city officials and her attorneys.
Arcadia, located about 13 miles northeast of Los Angeles, has a population of roughly 53,000, with a majority Asian and a high concentration of Chinese residents.
Propaganda Efforts
According to her plea agreement, Wang and her then-fiancé, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, promoted Chinese government propaganda on a website called U.S. News Center. Sun, who served as treasurer for Wang's 2022 campaign, is currently serving a four-year sentence after pleading guilty to the same charge last October.
In one instance in June 2021, a Chinese official sent Wang a link to a Los Angeles Times letter to the editor from the Chinese consul general. The letter denied reports of genocide and forced labor against Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Within minutes, Wang shared the link on her website.
The U.S. and other nations have labeled Beijing's policies toward Uyghurs as genocide and crimes against humanity.
Personal and Political Fallout
Wang's attorneys stated her relationship with Sun ended in spring 2024. A statement after her resignation referenced “her trust and love for apparently the wrong person who ultimately led her astray.”
Residents and former officials have criticized the city council for not demanding Wang's resignation earlier. Acting Mayor Paul Cheng noted the city charter only allows removal upon conviction, and that politicizing the investigation could hinder federal probes.
