Key Takeaways:
- A mistrial has been declared in the corruption case of Linda Sun, a former aide to New York governors, and her husband Chris Hu.
- The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on charges that Sun sold her influence to China and profited from a medical equipment scheme during the pandemic.
- Sun was accused of acting as an unregistered agent for China, visa fraud, money laundering, and other counts.
- The case is part of a broader Justice Department effort to root out agents working clandestinely in the U.S. for the Chinese government.
- The prosecution plans to retry the case as soon as possible.
Introduction to the Case
A judge declared a mistrial Monday in the corruption case of Linda Sun, a former aide to New York governors, after jurors said they were hopelessly deadlocked and couldn’t reach a verdict on charges she sold her influence to China and profited from a medical equipment scheme during the pandemic. The federal jury in Brooklyn was unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the case against Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, with the foreperson stating that the panel was deadlocked on all 19 counts. This development has significant implications for the case, which is part of a broader Justice Department effort to root out agents working clandestinely in the U.S. for the Chinese government.
The Charges Against Linda Sun
Linda Sun was accused of using her state government position to subtly advance Beijing’s agenda in exchange for financial benefits worth millions of dollars. Prosecutors alleged that she took kickbacks from Chinese companies to steer lucrative state contracts for face masks and other critical medical supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sun was charged with acting as an unregistered agent for China, visa fraud, money laundering, and other counts. Her husband, Chris Hu, was charged with money laundering, bank fraud, and tax evasion, and they were charged jointly with wire fraud, bribery, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. The charges against Sun and Hu are serious and highlight the complexity of the case.
Linda Sun’s Career and Alleged Misconduct
Sun, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China, held numerous posts over a roughly 15-year career in state government, including as deputy chief of staff to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and deputy diversity officer under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, both Democrats. She was fired in 2023 after the Hochul administration said it discovered the misconduct. During her time in state government, Sun allegedly took steps to align the state’s messaging with Chinese government priorities, including preventing representatives of Taiwan’s government from interacting with the governor’s office. She also allegedly pushed to remove references in official statements that referenced the Uighurs, a persecuted Muslim minority group in China. These actions, if proven, would demonstrate a clear breach of trust and a betrayal of the public’s faith in government officials.
The Trial and Prosecution’s Case
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Sun took steps to advance Beijing’s agenda, including emails and phone messages that showed how she worked to prevent representatives of Taiwan’s government from interacting with the governor’s office. In one instance, Sun even scuttled an invitation for Cuomo to meet Taiwan’s president while on a visit to the U.S. Prosecutors also alleged that Sun forged Hochul’s signature on official letters so that Chinese officials could obtain visas to enter the country. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on documentary evidence, including emails, phone messages, and financial records, which demonstrated a pattern of corruption and deceit. The prosecution’s arguments were clear and compelling, and it remains to be seen how the defense will respond in the retrial.
The Defense’s Case
Sun’s lawyers, however, cast her as a "proud American" and a loyal public servant simply doing her job as the governor’s liaison to the Asian American community. Kenneth Abell, in his closing remarks, acknowledged that Sun carefully cultivated official relationships with Chinese consulate officials, but argued that she was simply doing her job. He pointed to other instances when Sun met with and was even honored by the local Taiwanese community, and argued that her decision to block an invitation to meet the president of Taiwan was in keeping with past practice. Abell also questioned the prosecution’s claim that Sun had forged Hochul’s signature on visa documents for Chinese officials, and argued that the government’s story had "huge holes" in it. The defense’s case raises important questions about the prosecution’s narrative and highlights the complexity of the case.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The mistrial declaration is a significant development in the case, and it remains to be seen how the prosecution will proceed. The prosecution has stated that it wants to retry the case "as soon as possible," and it is likely that the case will be retried in the coming months. The case has significant implications for the broader Justice Department effort to root out agents working clandestinely in the U.S. for the Chinese government, and it will be closely watched by experts and the public alike. As the case moves forward, it is essential to consider the complexities of the case and the potential implications for the defendants, the government, and the public. Ultimately, the outcome of the case will depend on the strength of the evidence and the arguments presented by both sides, and it remains to be seen how the jury will decide in the retrial.
