A senior New York state government aide, Linda Sun, has been accused of secretly acting as an undercover agent for the Chinese government while enjoying a luxurious lifestyle funded by Beijing. According to a U.S. indictment, Sun, who served as the deputy chief of staff to the governor, used her influential position over 14 years to facilitate Chinese interests, including blocking Taiwanese diplomats from accessing state officials and sharing confidential documents with Chinese authorities.
In return for her covert services, prosecutors allege that Sun and her husband, Christopher Hu, received millions of dollars in kickbacks. These funds reportedly financed a $4.1 million home in New York, a $2.1 million ocean-view condo in Honolulu, and luxury vehicles, including a 2024 Ferrari Roma. Among the perks were also home deliveries of Nanjing-style salted duck prepared by a Chinese government official’s personal chef.
The indictment highlights instances where Sun allegedly helped Chinese officials gain access to New York’s Covid-19 response discussions, manipulated state events to exclude Taiwanese representatives, and removed references to China’s human rights abuses in official statements.
The couple pleaded not guilty to charges ranging from failing to register as foreign agents to visa fraud and money laundering. Following their court appearance, both were released on bail with travel restrictions and orders to avoid contact with Chinese consulate representatives. The case adds to a growing list of accusations involving U.S. officials allegedly compromised by foreign governments.