Former adviser to New York Governor Kathy Hochul charged with acting as Chinese agent

Linda Sun served as deputy chief of staff to New York Governor Kathy Hochul for a year. (File)

A former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul was arrested today and charged with acting as an unknown agent of China, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn said.

Linda Sun was Ms Hochul's deputy chief of staff for a year. The 41-year-old is also accused of visa fraud, human smuggling and money laundering.

It is alleged that while working for the state government, Ms. Sun prevented Taiwanese government officials from meeting with officials and attempted to arrange a visit to China by a high-ranking New York State official.

“In exchange for these and other actions, Ms. Sun received substantial economic and other benefits from officials of the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party,” the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a press release.

Her husband, Chris Hu, was also arrested. Prosecutors said the Chinese government facilitated millions of dollars in transactions for Mr. Hu, who did business in China.

Ms Sun also received several gifts, including Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by the chef of a Chinese government official, prosecutors added.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Ms. Sun and Mr. Hu laundered the proceeds of their scheme to purchase a $4.1 million property in New York, a $2.1 million condominium in Hawaii and various luxury cars, including a 2024 Ferrari.