My oh my, China's agents do get around, don't they?

According to a new indictment in New York, a former aide to Governors Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul operated as a foreign agent in Beijing's service for years. The Department of Justice has arrested and charged both Linda Sun and her husband Christopher Hu of actively interfering with New York's relationship with Taiwan. Sun and Hu got handsomely rewarded for that work too, the feds allege:

The former high-ranking aide for Gov. Kathy Hochul who was arrested along with her husband Tuesday acted as a foreign agent for China, according to a bombshell indictment.

The 64-page indictment accuses Linda Sun, 41, who was arrested that morning along with her husband, Christopher Hu, 40, of blocking representatives from Taiwan’s governor from visiting the New York governor’s office.

She also skewed public statements by unnamed “executive” officials, who appear to be Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, toward Chinese-friendly positions.

Sun and Hu also laundered kickbacks she received from the People’s Republic of China and Chinese Communist Party to buy a $4.1 million Long Island home that FBI agents later raided, the indictment contends.

Earlier today, the New York Times reported their arrest without any information about the charges they faced. Six weeks ago, they noted, the FBI had conducted that raid without any explanation afterward:

Six weeks ago, F.B.I. agents descended on the cul-de-sac in Manhasset and searched the couple’s $3.5 million five-bedroom house in an early-morning raid, but the basis for that action and the crimes they were investigating were unclear at that time. Neither could be reached for comment after the raid and they did not respond to voice mail and text messages.

Ms. Sun has worked in state government for nearly 14 years, holding a variety of positions, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She began in the legislative branch, working as chief of staff to an assemblywoman, Grace Meng, who is now a congresswoman. Ms. Sun then worked in various positions in the administrations of both Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Ms. Hochul, according to the LinkedIn profile.

It's certainly clear now. The DoJ alleges a long string of actions taken by Sun and Hu to promote China's interests without disclosure. The primary charge is a FARA violation, but the feds are also charging the pair with "visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy," and her husband also faces identity fraud and bank fraud charges as well. Notably, they aren't charged with espionage per se, but the charges they do face will put them behind bars for a long while ... or serve as bait for some sort of spy swap down the line.

The allegations also include some significant efforts to help China to gain access to elected officials, but the real amusing part comes in the benefits Sun and Hu received:

In return for these and other actions, Sun received substantial economic and other benefits from representatives of the PRC government and the CCP, including the facilitation of millions of dollars in transactions for the PRC-based business activities of Hu; travel benefits; tickets to events; promotion of a close family friend’s business; employment for Sun’s cousin in the PRC; and Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by a PRC government official’s personal chef that were delivered to the residence of Sun’s parents.  Sun and Hu laundered the monetary proceeds of this scheme to purchase, among other items, real estate property in Manhasset, New York currently valued at $4.1 million, a condominium in Honolulu, Hawaii currently valued at $2.1 million, and various luxury automobiles, including a 2024 Ferrari.  Sun never disclosed any benefits she received from representatives of the PRC government and the CCP to the New York State government, as she was required to do as a New York State government employee. 

Hu also laundered unlawful proceeds through bank accounts opened in the name of a close relative but that were actually for Hu’s exclusive use.  To open these accounts, Hu unlawfully used an image of the relative’s driver’s license.

That certainly raises some questions for Hochul and Cuomo. Their staffer/adviser went on this kind of a spending spree, and no one raised any questions about it? How many state employees drive around in a 2024 Ferrari or have two multi-million-dollar homes? Who vetted Sun for this job, and why didn't the state of New York figure this out during the Cuomo administration, let alone Hochul's?

And why do Democrats seem to be particularly vulnerable to PRC infiltration? Dianne Feinstein had a long-time spy for China on her staff too, and Eric Swalwell had Fang Fang as a girlfriend. Joe Biden had his son Hunter doing business with the CCP through its front companies, too. This is looking like a pattern rather than a series of coincidences.