Alleged Chinese language spy Linda Solar pushed the Chinese language Communist Get together’s agenda within the New York governor’s places of work for perks like salted geese and a 2024 Ferrari, in keeping with prosecutors.
Alleged Chinese language agent Linda Solar was arrested Tuesday morning
Linda Solar, who held quite a few posts underneath each governors Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul between 2012 and 2023, was arrested Tuesday morning alongside along with her husband, Chris Hu, at their $4 million mansion on Lengthy Island.
Prosecutors say Solar secretly labored to advertise the CCP’s pursuits in NY, notably when it got here to Taiwan, which the CCP considers to be a part of China. She is accused of blocking representatives of the Taiwanese authorities and even attending a protest in opposition to the Taiwanese president in NYC in 2018.
In 2020, Solar texted a Chinese language official saying: ‘I nearly had a coronary heart assault after we referred to Taiwan as a rustic. Fortunately I had the press group right it instantly.’
Solar pushed the Chinese language Communist Get together’s agenda within the New York governor’s places of work for perks like salted geese and a 2024 Ferrari, in keeping with prosecutors
In 2021, when Cuomo was nonetheless governor, Chinese language officers requested a Lunar New Yr video from him. Solar mentioned Hochul, then lieutenant governor, might most likely do it and requested for ‘speaking factors of stuff you need her to say.’
‘Largely vacation needs and hope for friendship and cooperation / Nothing too political,’ an official instructed her, in keeping with the indictment.
Solar later instructed a distinct official that she had argued with Hochul’s speechwriter over the draft, as a result of the speechwriter insisted on mentioning the ‘Uyghur scenario’ in China. She promised that she wouldn’t let that occur, and the ultimate speech didn’t point out the Muslim ethnic minority or the persecution they face in China, in keeping with the indictment.
Solar labored in state authorities for nearly 15 years, first in 2009 because the chief of employees for New York State Meeting member Grace Meng, who’s now a member of congress.
She then held posts within the administration of former Governor Andrew Cuomo beginning in 2012, together with as International New York Commerce Supervisor, Asian Outreach Director for the Workplace of the Governor and Queens Regional Consultant.
In 2018 the Cuomo administration named Solar as chief range officer.
Solar and Hu pleaded not responsible throughout an preliminary court docket look on Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn and had been launched on bond
Solar is seen at a 2019 protest in opposition to the Taiwanese president’s go to in NYC, per prosecutors
In September 2021 she was appointed because the deputy chief of employees for Hochul, in keeping with her LinkedIn profile. She remained on the position for about 15 months.
In January 2019, Solar wrote to a CCP official: ‘I very a lot worth my relationship with the consulate and have finished many issues to make the connection between the state and the consulate flourish throughout my tenure with [redacted politician.
‘Certainly I have managed to stop al relationships between the TECO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office) and the state. I have denied all requests from their office.’
Sun allegedly used the proceeds of her illegal work to buy the Manhasset home as well as a $2.1 million condo in Hawaii and luxury vehicles including a 2024 Ferrari.
She received smaller gifts, the indictment said, including tickets to performances by a visiting Chinese orchestra and ballet groups and ‘Nanjing-style salted ducks’ that were prepared by the personal chef of a Chinese government official
She also received smaller gifts, the indictment said, including tickets to performances by a visiting Chinese orchestra and ballet groups and ‘Nanjing-style salted ducks’ that were prepared by the personal chef of a Chinese government official and delivered to Sun’s parents’ home in New York.
Sun is also accused of obtaining proclamations and invitations from the governor’s office for Chinese officials without authorization and even attempting to facilitate an unnamed top NY politician’s trip to China.
In return, Sun and her family received substantial economic benefits from Chinese officials, including millions of dollars towards her husband’s businesses in NY and China, according to the DOJ.
Sun is seen above being honored at a People’s Republic of China consulate event in an image included in the Department of Justice’s indictment
Sun is seen posing with All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC) members in more evidence presented by the US government
Her husband Hu is accused of laundering the ill-gotten gains through the bank accounts of a close relative.
According to the indictment, Sun and Hu did not obtain mortgage loans for their Long Island or Hawaii homes when they bought them in 2021 – ‘ and the acquisitions occurred soon after HU received a series of wire transfers from a PRC-based account bearing the name of the Business Partner totaling more than $2.1 million.’
When a relative messaged Sun expressing concerned that people would wonder how she could afford the Long Island mansion, Sun replied: ‘Mortgage.’
Sun and Hu pleaded not guilty during an initial court appearance on Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn and were released on bond. Sun has been barred from having any contact with the People’s Republic of China’s consulate and mission.
Her defense lawyer, Jarrod Schaeffer, said, ‘We’re looking forward to addressing these charges in court. Our client is understandably upset that these charges have been brought.’
Chris Hu’s Queens liquor shop is pictured. Sun and her family received substantial economic benefits from Chinese officials, including millions of dollars towards her husband’s businesses in NY and China
In a statement, a spokesperson for Hochul’s office said the administration fired Sun after ‘discovering evidence of misconduct.’
‘This individual was hired by the Executive Chamber more than a decade ago. We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement and have assisted law enforcement throughout this process,’ the statement reads.
Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi downplayed Sun’s reach in the former governor’s administration, saying she ‘worked in a handful of agencies and was one of many community liaisons who had little to no interaction with the governor.’
