Linda Sun was arrested in September 2024 for covert influence activities on behalf of the PRC. Sun is a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in China and resided in the Eastern District of New York. From 2012 until 2023, SUN had the following jobs that provide placement and access for her covert actions:
Director of Asian American Affairs and Queens Regional Representative for a NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo
Director of External Affairs of Global NY for Empire State Development, the economic development arm of the NYS government
Deputy Chief Diversity Officer for NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo
Superintendent for Intergovernmental Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer at the NYS Department of Financial Services
Deputy Chief of Staff for the NYS Executive Chamber for Governor Coumo
Advisor for NYS Governor Kathy Hochul
Commissioner for Strategic Business Development for the NYS Department of Labor
Sun allegedly took direction from PRC Consul General Huang Ping and several senior Chinese diplomats in the political section of the Chinese consulate in New York City. She communicated with them through emails, phone calls, and personal meetings. She manipulated NYS’s policy towards the PRC, supporting China’s policies, dismissing human rights issues, increasing economic interactions, and politically excluding Taiwan. Over years, her she (Allegedly) conducted the following overt acts:
Restricted access and stopped Taiwan officials’ communication to the Governors’ office (Cuomo and Hochul)
Repeatedly altered language on NYS policy positions on China’s human rights violations.
Repeatedly directed staff not to respond to inquiries concerning NYS policy positions towards China.
Coordinated with PRC officials to have Governor Hochul visit China (Without the governor’s approval)
Allowed PRC officials to covertly listen in on official state business phone calls.
Signed Governor Hochul's signature on two unauthorized invitation letters to secure visas for Henan province trade delegations. This action was (allegedly) coordinated by Frank “Fuyin” Zhang, President of the East Coast Henan Association. Henan provincial level government officials tasked Zhang to secure the letters.
In return for Sun’s support, Henan provincial level officials allegedly provided favorable business deals to Sun’s husband Chris Hu. Hu made millions of dollars through exports to China and logistics contracts supporting shipment of medical supplies and equipment during the Covid crisis.
Status: Alleged
Tradecraft:
Sun communicated through emails, phone calls, WeChat text messages, and personal meetings.
Sun’s husband received preferential business contracts with the PRC.
Sun coordinated her activities with PRC diplomats and US based non-government organizations supporting the United Front Work Department.
Sun exploited her placement and access in the New York State government to manipulate the political and economic relationship with the PRC.
SUN and HU laundered the monetary proceeds through the bank account of a relative.
Linda Sun Association Chart
By Nicholas and Marguerite Eftimiades