A Governor’s Aide CHARGED—Politically Timed?

What happens when the line between allegiance and betrayal becomes blurred by greed and power?

At a Glance

  • Linda Sun, a former high-level aide to New York Governors Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo, is facing federal charges of acting as an unregistered agent for China.
  • Sun and her husband have also been charged in a bribery scheme involving an $8 million PPE contract during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Prosecutors allege the pair steered the state contract to companies controlled by their relatives in exchange for $2.3 million in kickbacks.
  • The espionage and bribery trial is controversially scheduled to begin just one day before Andrew Cuomo’s New York City mayoral election.

Aide to Two Governors Accused of Spying for China

Linda Sun, once an influential aide who served in the administrations of New York Governors Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul, now stands accused of being a spy for the Chinese government. In a stunning federal indictment, prosecutors have charged Sun with acting as an unregistered foreign agent, alleging she used her high-level access and influence within the state government to secretly benefit Beijing.

The charges have sent shockwaves through New York’s political circles, raising serious questions about foreign influence and government integrity. Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, have pleaded not guilty.

An $8 Million COVID Kickback Scheme

In addition to the explosive espionage charge, Sun and her husband face a second set of federal charges related to a massive bribery and kickback scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the indictment detailed by the New York Post, the couple used Sun’s position to steer an $8 million state contract for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to vendors controlled by their family members.

Prosecutors allege the couple received $2.3 million in kickbacks from the deal. “Not only did Sun allegedly use Chinese money and her influence in New York State to benefit the Chinese government,” said Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office, “it is further alleged that she used her position to steer multi-million-dollar contracts to companies controlled by family members and friends.”

The Federal Case and Political Timing

Sun was fired from the Hochul administration in March 2023 after initial allegations of misconduct surfaced. Now, she and her husband face a federal trial. Sun was released on a $1.5 million bond, while her husband was released on a $500,000 bond.

The timing of the legal proceedings has raised eyebrows. As reported by Ground.news, her trial is scheduled to begin just one day before her former boss, Andrew Cuomo, faces voters in the New York City mayoral election, creating a politically charged backdrop for both the trial and the election.

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