In a stunning development, Linda Sun, a former high-ranking official in the New York state government, has been charged with acting as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government. Sun, who held influential positions under both former Governor Andrew Cuomo and current Governor Kathy Hochul, allegedly used her roles to advance the interests of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the course of more than a decade.

The charges against Sun were revealed in an indictment on Tuesday, detailing a series of covert activities allegedly conducted on behalf of the CCP. According to federal prosecutors, Sun, who eventually became the deputy chief of staff for Governor Hochul, leveraged her position within the state government to further the political and economic goals of the Chinese government.

This included actions such as blocking representatives of the Taiwanese government from accessing New York state officials and facilitating unauthorized meetings between Chinese government representatives and state officials.

Sun was arrested early Tuesday morning at her $3.5 million home on Long Island, alongside her husband, Chris Hu. The indictment alleges that Sun and Hu received substantial financial benefits from the Chinese government in exchange for her efforts. These benefits reportedly included assistance with multimillion-dollar business deals in China, which Hu allegedly used to support his various business ventures, including a seafood export company and a financial consultancy. The couple is also accused of laundering the proceeds from these activities, using the funds to purchase luxury properties and vehicles.

The arrest and indictment of Sun mark a significant escalation in the U.S. government’s efforts to combat foreign influence operations within its borders. A key component of the charges against Sun is her failure to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

This legal requirement is intended to ensure transparency regarding individuals acting on behalf of foreign governments. By not registering, Sun allegedly concealed her activities from both the New York state government and the American public, allowing her to operate undetected for years.

Further complicating her legal troubles, Sun is accused of lying to federal investigators about her connections to the Chinese government. The indictment details instances where Sun misrepresented the nature of her activities during voluntary interviews with the FBI, including a trip to China that was allegedly arranged and funded by CCP operatives.

The indictment even notes a peculiar incident in which Chinese consulate officials delivered a Nanjing-style salted duck—a culinary specialty—prepared by the personal chef of a consulate official, to Sun’s parents.

Sun and Hu now face multiple serious charges, including conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government, money laundering, and making false statements to federal agents. If convicted, they could face significant prison time and the forfeiture of assets acquired through their alleged illegal activities. The couple is expected to make their initial court appearance on Tuesday afternoon, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn.