Former NY Governor’s aide Linda Sun exploited COVID panic to funnel $44 million in state contracts to family businesses while secretly working as a Chinese agent, pocketing millions in kickbacks.
Key Takeaways
- Linda Sun, former aide to NY Governors Cuomo and Hochul, faces new fraud charges related to COVID-19 PPE procurement on top of previous charges of acting as an unregistered Chinese agent
- Sun and her husband Chris Hu allegedly steered $44 million in state contracts to companies connected to them, receiving $2.3 million in kickbacks
- The couple is accused of forging documents to falsely claim Chinese contacts recommended their family-linked businesses for lucrative PPE contracts
- Sun allegedly suppressed mentions of Chinese human rights abuses in state communications while using her position to advance Chinese government interests
- The couple used their illicit gains to purchase multimillion-dollar properties and luxury vehicles before Sun was fired by the Hochul administration in 2023
COVID Panic Exploitation and Chinese Influence
The depths of corruption within New York’s pandemic response continue to unfold as Linda Sun, who served as deputy chief diversity officer under Governor Andrew Cuomo during the height of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, now faces serious fraud charges. A federal grand jury delivered a superseding indictment, unsealed on June 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, detailing how Sun allegedly leveraged her government position to enrich herself and her husband while covertly advancing Chinese interests. This scandal represents yet another example of Democrat officials exploiting a crisis for personal gain while Americans suffered.
“When masks, gloves and other protective supplies were hard to find, Sun abused her position of trust to steer contracts to her associates so that she and her husband could share in the profits,” said Joseph Nocella Jr.
The Multi-Million Dollar PPE Scheme
According to prosecutors, Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, orchestrated an elaborate scheme that capitalized on New York’s desperate need for personal protective equipment during the pandemic’s darkest days. Using Sun’s position and her connections in China, the couple directed state contracts worth over $44 million to businesses connected to their family. The fraud involved forging documents to falsely claim that Chinese contacts had recommended these specific companies, creating the illusion of legitimate procurement while secretly funneling $2.3 million back to Hu through various channels.
The couple didn’t just pocket the money – they flaunted their ill-gotten gains by purchasing multimillion-dollar properties and luxury vehicles. This ostentatious display of wealth, acquired while Americans were losing jobs and lives during the pandemic, exemplifies the corrupt self-enrichment that has become all too common among government officials, particularly in Democrat-run states that implemented the most draconian COVID policies while apparently failing to maintain basic oversight of emergency spending.
Dual Loyalty: The Chinese Agent Allegations
Even more disturbing than the PPE procurement fraud are the allegations that Sun was simultaneously working as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government. The original indictment charged Sun with using her state positions to advance Chinese government interests in exchange for financial benefits. This included actively suppressing mentions of Chinese human rights abuses in official state communications – effectively acting as a censor for the Chinese Communist Party while on the New York state payroll.
“Linda Sun, former aide to both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is facing fraud charges on top of previous accusations of acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese regime,” said Kathy Hochul, New York Gov.
These allegations highlight the serious national security risks associated with China’s growing influence in American government institutions. Sun’s dual positions – serving both New York taxpayers and allegedly Chinese government interests – represent precisely the kind of infiltration that security experts have been warning about for years. The fact that she reached such a high-ranking position in the administration of two consecutive governors raises serious questions about the vetting procedures in place for officials with access to sensitive information and decision-making authority.
Hochul’s Delayed Response
The Hochul administration eventually fired Sun in 2023 after reportedly “discovering evidence of misconduct.” This delayed response raises questions about oversight and accountability within the state government, particularly given the seriousness of the allegations. By the time action was taken, millions in taxpayer dollars had already been diverted, and sensitive information may have been compromised. The case highlights the need for more rigorous screening and monitoring of government officials, especially those with foreign connections or potential conflicts of interest.
Sun’s attorney, Jarrod Schaeffer, has attempted to dismiss the allegations, stating they are “feverish accusations unmoored from the facts and evidence that we expect will actually come out at trial.” However, the detailed nature of the indictment, including specific financial transactions and documented communications, suggests prosecutors have built a substantial case against the former aide and her husband. As the legal process unfolds, this case serves as a stark reminder of how vulnerable our government institutions became during the pandemic when normal oversight procedures were often suspended in the name of emergency response.
