A former aide to New York state governor has been arrested and charged with working as an agent for China in exchange for millions of dollars, a lavish lifestyle and salted duck, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
The United States regularly seeks to flush out officials and others working on behalf of foreign countries, particularly arch-rival China.
Prosecutors say Sun blocked Taiwanese officials from accessing New York state leaders, sought to arrange an official trip to China for a senior New York official and brokered meetings for visiting Chinese delegations.
She is accused of having, in return, received “substantial” economic incentives allowing her a luxury lifestyle, tickets to a Chinese orchestra and even famous Nanjing salted ducks prepared by the chef of a visiting Chinese official.
Linda Sun “used her position of influence” among New York executives to “covertly advance” the interests of the Chinese regime, “directly threatening our country’s national security,” prosecutors said in a statement.
“This illicit scheme enriched the defendant’s family to the tune of millions of dollars,” prosecutor Breon Peace said in the statement, without providing exact figures. “Her husband Christopher Hu enabled the transfer of millions of dollars in bribes for his own personal benefit,” he added.
Both pleaded not guilty and were released on bail on condition that they not contact a Chinese diplomatic mission.
Prosecutors said the two defendants bought a $4.1 million property on Long Island, New York, a $2.1 million apartment in Hawaii and a brand new Ferrari.
China’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it was unaware of Sun’s situation.
“I will not comment on internal cases in the United States,” spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing. “But we oppose any malicious association or slander against China,” she added.