A former top aide to two New York governors allegedly tracked millions in illegal pandemic-era kickbacks on a spreadsheet titled “Me” while serving as an unregistered Chinese foreign agent during America’s desperate scramble for protective equipment.
Key Takeaways
- Linda Sun, former aide to NY Governors Cuomo and Hochul, and her husband Chris Hu allegedly received $2.3 million in kickbacks from $44 million in state PPE contracts
- The couple faces charges of honest services wire fraud, conspiracy, bribery, and acting as unregistered foreign agents for China
- Sun allegedly manipulated vendor lists to favor her cousin’s company and forged documents claiming Chinese officials recommended certain vendors
- Prosecutors claim the couple aimed to profit $8.02 million from the scheme while Americans struggled to obtain protective equipment
- FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the alleged corruption as endangering American lives while serving Chinese Communist Party interests
Dual Loyalty and Pandemic Profiteering
Federal prosecutors have charged Linda Sun, who served as an aide to both New York Governors Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul, with exploiting her position during the COVID-19 pandemic to direct lucrative PPE contracts to associates while secretly working as an agent for Chinese government interests. Sun and her husband Chris Hu allegedly received millions in kickbacks through the scheme, with prosecutors claiming they tracked their illicit gains on a spreadsheet simply titled “Me.” The charges mark a disturbing intersection of pandemic profiteering and potential foreign influence at the highest levels of state government during a national crisis.
“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 Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr.
The Mechanics of the Alleged Scheme
According to court documents, Sun allegedly used her connections to China to help New York obtain desperately needed PPE during the pandemic’s early days. However, prosecutors claim she went far beyond legitimate procurement efforts by forging documents to falsely suggest that Chinese officials had recommended two specific companies—both linked to her and her husband. The state subsequently signed contracts worth over $44 million with these companies, with approximately $2.3 million allegedly flowing back to Hu through various channels. Sun’s position gave her unique influence over the state’s emergency procurement process during a time when normal contracting safeguards were suspended.
“While Americans were locked down and desperate for PPE, Linda Sun and Chris Hu cashed in – allegedly lining their pockets while serving CCP interests,” Patel wrote on X. “This is corruption that endangered lives. The FBI will not tolerate public officials who sell out their country.”
Sun’s alleged corruption extended beyond pandemic profiteering. She is also accused of acting directly on behalf of the Chinese government by suppressing mentions of human rights issues in a Lunar New Year video produced for the governor’s office. In exchange for these services, prosecutors allege Hu received business assistance in China that helped the couple acquire multiple properties and luxury vehicles. Governor Hochul’s administration ultimately fired Sun in 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, though the full scope of her alleged activities was not known at that time.
Legal Proceedings and National Security Implications
Sun and Hu have pleaded not guilty to the initial charges of acting as unregistered foreign agents, with a trial scheduled for November. They are expected to respond similarly to the new allegations of bribery and fraud. Sun’s attorney, Jarrod Schaeffer, has vigorously disputed the charges, characterizing them as politically motivated. The couple now faces a substantial legal battle with charges including honest services wire fraud, conspiracy, and bribery, alongside the foreign agent allegations. If convicted, they could face decades in federal prison.
“The newest allegations continue the government’s trend of making and publicizing feverish accusations unmoored from the facts and evidence that we expect will actually come out at trial,” said attorney Jarrod Schaeffer.
The case highlights growing concerns about foreign influence in the American government, particularly from China. President Trump has consistently warned about the threat of Chinese infiltration into critical American institutions and infrastructure. This prosecution represents part of a broader effort to address potential compromises of national security through corrupt public officials. The FBI’s involvement signals the seriousness with which federal authorities view these allegations, particularly when they intersect with essential public health resources during a national emergency. The case continues to develop as investigators probe the full extent of Sun’s alleged activities.
