A former high-ranking aide to New York's governors is on trial in Brooklyn, accused of using her position to secretly work for the Chinese government. Linda Sun, a longtime aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo and later Governor Kathy Hochul, faces charges that she betrayed her country by advancing China's interests without registering as a foreign agent.
Prosecutors say Sun accepted bribes and acted on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, while her defense team argues that she was simply doing her job in liaison with Chinese officials. However, prosecutors claim that Sun secretly edited press releases to remove references to Taiwan and discouraged Hochul's staff from addressing China's human rights abuses against the Uyghur minority.
Sun is accused of forging Hochul's signature on a visa application for a visiting Chinese delegation and accepting lavish kickbacks, including a $3.6 million mansion and a Ferrari Roma. Her husband, Chris Hu, is also charged with helping to launder these funds through their family connections and businesses.
In her opening statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Shami painted Sun as a public servant who prioritized her own interests over those of the American people. "This is a case about betrayal," Shami said. "Public servants are meant to serve the public, not themselves."
Sun's defense team has argued that she didn't have to register as a foreign agent because her recommendations to Cuomo and Hochul aligned with U.S. policy. However, prosecutors say Sun secretly concealed her actions on behalf of the Chinese government.
The trial is being overseen by Judge Brian Cogan, who previously presided over the 2019 case against notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. The jury was warned to avoid references to spying or espionage and focus on the narrower charges at hand.
The trial could last several weeks, with prosecutors estimating that it will take around three to four weeks to complete. The outcome of the trial is likely to have significant implications for Sun's reputation and her future prospects in politics.
Prosecutors say Sun accepted bribes and acted on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, while her defense team argues that she was simply doing her job in liaison with Chinese officials. However, prosecutors claim that Sun secretly edited press releases to remove references to Taiwan and discouraged Hochul's staff from addressing China's human rights abuses against the Uyghur minority.
Sun is accused of forging Hochul's signature on a visa application for a visiting Chinese delegation and accepting lavish kickbacks, including a $3.6 million mansion and a Ferrari Roma. Her husband, Chris Hu, is also charged with helping to launder these funds through their family connections and businesses.
In her opening statement, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Shami painted Sun as a public servant who prioritized her own interests over those of the American people. "This is a case about betrayal," Shami said. "Public servants are meant to serve the public, not themselves."
Sun's defense team has argued that she didn't have to register as a foreign agent because her recommendations to Cuomo and Hochul aligned with U.S. policy. However, prosecutors say Sun secretly concealed her actions on behalf of the Chinese government.
The trial is being overseen by Judge Brian Cogan, who previously presided over the 2019 case against notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. The jury was warned to avoid references to spying or espionage and focus on the narrower charges at hand.
The trial could last several weeks, with prosecutors estimating that it will take around three to four weeks to complete. The outcome of the trial is likely to have significant implications for Sun's reputation and her future prospects in politics.
It's crazy that Linda Sun allegedly took bribes, edited press releases, and even forged signatures to help the Chinese government. And on top of that, her husband is accused of laundering millions in kickbacks... it's a whole lot of corruption.
I'm also worried about what this means for national security and how China can manipulate people in positions of power.
. She's been in politics for ages, so it's not like she's some newbie trying to scam her way into power... that being said, using your position to further China's interests without registering as a foreign agent? Yeah, that's not cool 
. And now the whole thing is getting blown out of proportion because people are just waiting for the drama to unfold 
.
Like, who wouldn't want to advance China's interests while collecting a sweet $3.6 million mansion and a fancy Ferrari? 
. And the fact that she accepted bribes and lavish gifts in exchange is just disgusting 
.
. It's not even about party politics or ideology - it's about someone putting their own interests above the law. That's what's so infuriating 
.
. This trial could be super interesting - fingers crossed it's not just a snooze fest 
!
Just saw the latest update on Linda Sun's trial and I'm shook 
! Did you know that 70% of people in New York believe that China's influence has a negative impact on US foreign policy? 
It's all about context, folks! 
. Meanwhile, according to OECD reports, the richest 1% in New York earn over 20 times more than the median household income 
According to Transparency International, 80% of countries worldwide have a corrupt leader or politician in power 
Let's wait for the verdict and see how it unfolds!
this whole thing is just so shady 
... like how can someone just betray their country like that? 
i mean, i know they're saying she was just doing her job, but it sounds like she was taking the Chinese money and using it for herself 
meanwhile, her hubby's trying to wash that cash through their own businesses 
... it's just not right 
. if you're gonna take bribes from a foreign gov't, at least have the decency to register as a foreign agent 
. The fact that her husband was involved too is just another layer of corruption 
– it's hard to believe she didn't see the writing on the wall at some point.
. Either way, this trial is a big deal for politics and governance in general. It raises questions about accountability and who really holds the power behind the scenes 
.
is gettin in on the action too, launderin cash 4 them fancy cars & mansion 
That's some serious insider info right there! The thought of her editing press releases to remove Taiwan references or discouraging Hochul's staff from addressing human rights abuses is just wild. And those kickbacks... $3.6 million mansion and a Ferrari Roma? 
. that's a major betrayal of trust. i mean, we're talking about accepting bribes and editing press releases on purpose... that's not just bad, that's treasonous 
. let's see how this trial plays out and hopefully she gets what's coming to her 
. It just feels so shady and untrustworthy.
. I'm not convinced this whole thing is about national security, it's about power and corruption 
.
I don't get how she could think it was okay to take bribes and help China out like that. It's like, hello, you're supposed to be serving the US people, not lining your own pockets or helping our enemies!