A firestorm of controversy has erupted in New York politics following the indictment of Linda Sun, a former senior aide to Governor Kathy Hochul, for allegedly acting as an agent of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Representative Claudia Tenney, a Republican from New York, has penned a scathing letter to Governor Hochul demanding answers about Sun’s activities and potential influence within the state government.
Tenney’s letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, alleges that Sun, while serving as deputy chief of staff in the New York State executive chamber, used her position to advance CCP agendas, including allegedly laundering millions of dollars for China and using kickbacks to buy property and luxury vehicles. The allegations also raise serious concerns about Sun’s possible involvement with secret Chinese police stations operating in New York City.
The indictment alleges that Sun actively promoted ‘equity’ policies in line with CCP goals, screened anti-CCP rhetoric from New York State officials’ remarks, and leveraged her position for personal gain. Sun’s husband, Chris Hu, was also arrested in connection with the scheme.
Tenney’s letter directly challenges Hochul’s judgment in hiring Sun, questioning whether she was aware of Sun’s alleged ties to the CCP before or after the Department of Justice (DOJ) informed her. The letter also demands a list of meetings Hochul had with Taiwanese and CCP officials during her time as governor and lieutenant governor.
Governor Hochul has stated that she was shocked by the allegations against Sun and that she fired her in March 2023 for misconduct. However, Tenney’s letter pushes for a deeper investigation into Sun’s influence and potential impact on state policy decisions, particularly concerning the presence of secret Chinese police stations in New York City.
The letter asks for a formal apology to Taiwanese partners for Sun’s actions, which are alleged to have negatively impacted the relationship between Taiwan and the New York State government. It also demands an official commitment to recognizing a Taiwanese-American Heritage Week in 2025, acknowledging the CCP’s genocide of Uyghurs, and taking steps to ensure that there are no other CCP agents within Hochul’s administration.
Tenney has set a deadline of September 18th for Hochul to respond to her questions and to provide information on any actions she plans to take regarding Sun’s alleged activities. This issue promises to be a major political controversy in New York, with the potential to significantly impact Hochul’s administration and the state’s relationship with both Taiwan and China.
