NY Official Allegedly Bribed by China with Ducks, Jobs, and Cash: DOJ

Federal prosecutors have accused Linda Sun, a former high-ranking aide to New York’s governor, of covertly working for China and receiving various perks in return. The allegations include receiving tickets to concerts, significant sums of money, and a number of traditional Nanjing-style salted ducks.

Linda Sun, who previously served under both Governor Kathy Hochul and her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, has been charged with numerous offenses, ranging from visa fraud to conspiracy and money laundering. This significant legal action came to light on Tuesday, raising concerns over the implications of her alleged actions.

The 40-year-old Sun is accused of interfering with Taiwanese officials’ access to the governor’s office in New York. She allegedly altered public communications from both Hochul and Cuomo to align with Chinese narratives, significantly bolstering Beijing’s interests.

According to the Justice Department, Sun engaged in communications with the Chinese consulate regarding Taiwan’s interactions with the governor’s office. A notable message sent to a Chinese official in 2016 contained the phrase, “It’s all been taken care of satisfactorily.” In another communication from 2019, she reportedly confirmed, “Just an FYI, I already blocked it,” when Taiwan’s president requested a meeting with Cuomo.

Unsealed court documents indicate that Sun occupied several influential positions over more than a decade of service in the New York government. She had previously held roles as the director for Asian-American affairs and as a regional representative for Queens under Cuomo’s administration. In September 2021, she was appointed deputy chief of staff by Hochul and later took on the role of deputy commissioner for strategic business development at the New York Labor Department from September 2022 until 2023.

During her tenure, prosecutors allege that Sun facilitated meetings with state officials for Chinese representatives using forged invitation letters. Furthermore, she reportedly sought to arrange a potential trip to China for Governor Hochul.

FBI officials described Sun’s actions as a significant threat to national security, emphasizing that she used her influential position to promote agendas aligned with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

In return for her services, Sun is said to have accepted a variety of undisclosed gifts, which included tickets to ballet and orchestra performances, access to VIP suites during sporting events, and significant financial support for her husband’s business located in China. Investigators noted that from 2021 to 2022, she received salted ducks from the personal chef of a Chinese consulate official on four occasions, sometimes as many as six ducks at once.

Additionally, Sun’s benefits included securing a job for her cousin in China and receiving various perks from local officials during a work trip to Jiangsu province.

According to the Justice Department, the financial transactions involved in Sun and her husband Chris Hu’s operations resulted in the purchase of at least two high-value properties: a $4.1 million home in Manhasset, New York, and a $2.1 million condo in Honolulu. They also acquired luxury vehicles, including a 2024 Ferrari.

Chris Hu has himself faced legal charges from the Justice Department on allegations of money laundering and misuse of identification documents.

A spokesperson for Governor Hochul stated that Sun was employed by the New York governor’s office for over a decade but was terminated in March 2023 after evidence of misconduct surfaced. They emphasized that her actions were promptly reported to law enforcement, with the office fully cooperating throughout the investigation.

When asked about Sun in a recent interview, Governor Hochul confirmed that the aide was dismissed immediately upon discovery of misconduct but declined to elaborate on the specific misconduct flagged by her office.

In response to the allegations, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, expressed unfamiliarity with the case but remarked on the trend of the U.S. government and media highlighting narratives of “Chinese agents,” many of which have later proven to be unfounded. He condemned what he referred to as the unjust slandering of China.

On Tuesday, Sun’s lawyer, Jarrod Schaeffer, stated that they are preparing to contest the charges in court, sharing that Sun is understandably distressed over the legal developments.

Efforts to obtain further comments from Schaeffer or representatives of Cuomo were not successful immediately following regular business hours.

Source: Business Insider