Ex–NY Official Accused of Spying for China Said Hochul Was “More Obedient” Than Cuomo: Trial
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A former top New York state official accused of spying for China once said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was “much more submissive” than then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Linda Sun made this statement after convincing Hochul, who was serving as Cuomo’s lieutenant governor at the time, to shoot a Lunar New Year video about China’s New York consulate, New York Post reported, based on evidence presented in Sun’s corruption case.
“Much more obedient than the governor,” Sun wrote to Chinese consular official Lihua Li in a message shown to jurors in Brooklyn federal court on Jan. 25, 2021.
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Linda Sun is accused of being an assistant to the Chinese government. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
Minutes later, Sun texted Huang Ping, who was heading the consular office at the time.
Prosecutors allegedly wrote, “The lieutenant governor listens to me more than the governor.”
Chinese officials asked Cuomo to film the video, but Sun told them he could probably get Hochul to participate, prosecutors said.
“Let me ask, but LG can probably do it,” Sun replied to Li, referring to Hochul.
“That would be great too. Thank you,” Li replied.
The two-minute video shows Hochul wishing everyone a happy Lunar New Year and talking about the “privilege” of working with the Chinese-American community and the Chinese consular office. Fox News Digital reached out to Hochul’s office.
Sun, who also served under Hochul, is charged with conspiracy to violate and violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy.
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks at a press conference in Manhattan on February 20, 2025 in New York City. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid)
Prosecutors with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office believe Sun acted on behalf of the Chinese government on several occasions, including making a high-level official visit to China and preventing Taiwanese government representatives from meeting with American officials.
Sun was fired from his position in 2023 after “evidence of misconduct” was found. She is accused of giving favors to Chinese officials in exchange for millions of dollars in business that was funneled to her husband, Chris Hu, who does business in China.
Hu and Sun are accused of using the money to buy properties worth more than $6 million on Long Island, New York and Honolulu, as well as a 2024 Ferrari Roma sports car.
Sun was once allegedly able to stop Cuomo from talking about the plight of Uighurs, the predominantly Muslim ethnic group targeted by the Chinese government through mass incarceration and forced labor, according to human rights advocates.
According to the Post, in the meeting with Ping on January 25, 2021, Sun wrote that Cuomo “got into an argument” with the speechwriter who “insisted” on bringing up the Uyghurs.
“This person has never been to China, has he? He knows very little about China,” Ping replied.
Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, allegedly once bragged that Hochul was “much more obedient” than then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. (Getty Images)
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“I’ve never been there,” Sun said. “I’m going to collapse.”
“I will think of a solution tomorrow, but I will definitely not allow the governor to raise this issue,” Sun added.
Sun’s lawyers argued that his contact with Chinese officials was not inappropriate and was legal.
“Linda Sun did what she was hired to do. She did not commit a crime by doing her job,” defense attorney Jarrod Schaeffer told jurors at the start of the trial, the Post reported.
