Former New York Governor Aide Accused of Secret Chinese Government Ties
A former senior aide to two New York governors has gone on trial facing serious allegations that she secretly operated as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government while personally profiting from the relationship.
Linda Sun, 41, and her husband Chris Hu, 42, appeared at Brooklyn Federal Court on Wednesday as their high-profile case began. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including acting as an unregistered foreign agent, money laundering conspiracy, and visa fraud.
Allegations of Betrayal and Lavish Rewards
Federal prosecutors presented a dramatic opening statement describing the case as one of "betrayal and greed". Assistant US Attorney Amanda Shami told jurors that Sun had betrayed the State of New York while her husband exploited her high-level government position for personal enrichment.
The prosecution alleges that Sun discreetly advanced China's political agenda during her tenure as an advisor to both former Governor Andrew Cuomo and current Governor Kathy Hochul. In return for her services, the couple allegedly received millions of dollars transferred from the Chinese Communist Party.
This substantial wealth enabled them to purchase a $4 million mansion on Long Island's exclusive North Shore, a $1.9 million condominium in Hawaii, and a brand new 2024 Ferrari Roma valued at over $243,000.
The benefits reportedly extended beyond property and luxury vehicles to include orchestra tickets and even specialty foods. Prosecutors described how Nanjing-style salted ducks, prepared by a Chinese official's personal chef, were delivered to Sun's parents' New York home.
Defence Arguments and Counterclaims
Sun's defence team, led by attorney Jarrod L. Schaeffer, vigorously rejected the allegations, telling jurors that the charges "assault everything she's built her life around". Schaeffer portrayed his client as a proud American and loyal public servant who only engaged with China in an official, legal capacity.
The defence argued that Sun's role included serving as a liaison to the Asian community and that none of her advice contradicted US foreign policy. Schaeffer dismissed the foreign agent charge as "nonsense" and questioned the significance of gifts like salted ducks, calling the bribery implication "just silly".
Regarding the PPE procurement allegations, Sun's lawyer acknowledged she "did not do a great job of filling out every form the government required her to" but emphasized that she worked tirelessly to secure vital equipment during the pandemic crisis.
Specific Allegations of Political Manipulation
Prosecutors presented detailed claims about Sun's alleged activities on behalf of Chinese interests. They stated she acted at the request of Chinese officials to block representatives from Taiwan from accessing the governor's office.
Evidence includes messages allegedly showing Sun "bragging to the Chinese consulate" about preventing relationships between Taiwanese offices and the state government. In one exchange, a Chinese official reportedly described Sun as "the most important hub" connecting them with Cuomo's team.
Additional allegations include that Sun prevented Lunar New Year messages from referencing the detention of Uyghur Muslims in China and that she forged Governor Hochul's signature on invitations for Chinese officials to visit New York.
The prosecution also claims Sun obtained official New York State proclamations for Chinese government representatives without proper authorization.
COVID-19 Procurement Controversy
One of the most significant allegations involves New York's purchase of personal protective equipment during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors claim Sun steered state contracts worth over $44 million to two Chinese companies—one operated by her second-cousin and another by her husband's business associate.
Sun allegedly failed to disclose these relationships to New York officials. The cousin then reportedly funneled approximately $2.3 million back to Hu. Prosecutors described this as particularly egregious, stating Sun "betrayed New Yorkers when they were most vulnerable".
Hu's defence attorney, Nicole Boeckmann, countered that there was no kickback scheme because there was no competition for the contracts during the urgent pandemic situation. She noted that the equipment was "delivered on time at a fair price" when the governor was publicly begging for supplies.
Political Fallout and Career Background
Sun, who immigrated to the United States as a child and became a naturalised citizen, built a nearly 15-year career in New York state government. She held numerous positions including deputy chief of staff to Governor Hochul and deputy diversity officer under Governor Cuomo.
Hochul's administration fired Sun in March 2023 after "discovering evidence of misconduct" and immediately reported her actions to law enforcement. When questioned about Sun at a congressional hearing, Cuomo stated he wouldn't recognise her and described her as a "junior member" of his team.
The trial is expected to last approximately one month and will feature witnesses from the State Department, Internal Revenue Service, and international law experts. Notably, references to espionage have been prohibited after defence lawyers successfully argued such insinuations would be "profoundly misleading and unfairly prejudicial".
