Former assistant governor of New York arrested on charges of ties to China
4 september 2024 в 00:37
Former high-ranking assistant to the governor of New York, Katie Hokul, was arrested on Tuesday morning on federal criminal charges, accused of acting as an agent of China and the Chinese Communist Party and embezzling millions of dollars, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn said.
Linda Sun, 41, and her husband Christopher Hu, 40, were detained a month and a half after the FBI searched their home in the village of Manhasset on Long Island at the end of July. They are charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy.
Sun and Hu enriched themselves «to the tune of millions of dollars», - according to Brooklyn district attorney Breon Pisa. Authorities claim that this money helped them acquire their $ 3.6 million home in Manhasset, as well as a $ 2.1 million apartment in Honolulu.
Prosecutors described other alleged perks, including «Nanjing-style salted duck», - prepared by a personal chef of a Chinese official and sent to Sun’s parents' home.
«Sun used her influence among leaders to secretly advance the agendas of the PRC [People's Republic of China] and CCP [Chinese Communist Party], directly threatening our country’s national security», - Pisa added in a statement.
Sun worked as Hokul’s deputy chief of staff for a year, as well as holding other positions in state government.
During her time in state government, Sun allegedly blocked meetings between Taiwanese government representatives and officials and tried to organize a visit by a high-ranking New York state official to China.
«Sun was hired by the Executive Chamber over a decade ago. We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement, and have assisted law enforcement throughout this process», - said Hokul’s press secretary Avi Small in a statement.
Prior to her positions in the Hokul administration, Sun held several positions in Andrew Cuomo’s administration, including a high-ranking position in the state’s economic development sector, which involved organizing international trade missions, according to her LinkedIn account.
Sun also previously served as chief of staff to then-Assemblymember Grace Meng, who is now in Congress
Linda Sun, 41, and her husband Christopher Hu, 40, were detained a month and a half after the FBI searched their home in the village of Manhasset on Long Island at the end of July. They are charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy.
Sun and Hu enriched themselves «to the tune of millions of dollars», - according to Brooklyn district attorney Breon Pisa. Authorities claim that this money helped them acquire their $ 3.6 million home in Manhasset, as well as a $ 2.1 million apartment in Honolulu.
Prosecutors described other alleged perks, including «Nanjing-style salted duck», - prepared by a personal chef of a Chinese official and sent to Sun’s parents' home.
«Sun used her influence among leaders to secretly advance the agendas of the PRC [People's Republic of China] and CCP [Chinese Communist Party], directly threatening our country’s national security», - Pisa added in a statement.
Sun worked as Hokul’s deputy chief of staff for a year, as well as holding other positions in state government.
During her time in state government, Sun allegedly blocked meetings between Taiwanese government representatives and officials and tried to organize a visit by a high-ranking New York state official to China.
«Sun was hired by the Executive Chamber over a decade ago. We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement, and have assisted law enforcement throughout this process», - said Hokul’s press secretary Avi Small in a statement.
Prior to her positions in the Hokul administration, Sun held several positions in Andrew Cuomo’s administration, including a high-ranking position in the state’s economic development sector, which involved organizing international trade missions, according to her LinkedIn account.
Sun also previously served as chief of staff to then-Assemblymember Grace Meng, who is now in Congress
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
