{"id":2336661,"date":"2024-09-04T14:17:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T18:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elise-stefanik-calls-for-investigation-into-new-york-governor-after-former-aide-charged-with-being-chinese-spy-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-04T14:20:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T18:20:04","slug":"elise-stefanik-calls-for-investigation-into-new-york-governor-after-former-aide-charged-with-being-chinese-spy-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elise-stefanik-calls-for-investigation-into-new-york-governor-after-former-aide-charged-with-being-chinese-spy-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Elise Stefanik calls for investigation into New York governor after former aide charged with being Chinese spy &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">40<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Felise-stefanik-calls-for-investigation-into-new-york-governor-after-former-aide-charged-with-being-chinese-spy-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2336661&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican \u2063from New York, has called\u2063 for an investigation into\u2064 Governor Kathy Hochul&#8217;s administration \u200dfollowing the indictment of a former aide, Linda Sun, who faces\u2062 serious charges, including being\u2064 an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fetterman-calls-on-senate-to-expel-menendez-after-foreign-agent-charges\/\" title=\"Fetterman urges Senate to remove Menendez over foreign agent accusations.\">alleged foreign agent<\/a> \u2063for\u200b the Chinese government. Sun is \u2063accused\u2062 of \u2063multiple offenses, including\u200c violating the Foreign\u2062 Agents Registration\u2063 Act, visa fraud, and money laundering\u2064 conspiracy. Her husband, Christopher Hu, is \u200balso \u200dinvolved in \u2064related\u2063 charges.<\/p>\n<p>Stefanik has expressed \u2064concerns\u200d that Hochul allowed an individual tied to the Chinese government access to high levels of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gov-whitmer-media-caught-in-another-lie-anarchist-arrested-for-plot-to-kidnap-and-kill-whitmer-hates-president-trump-trump-is-a-tyrant-video\/\" title=\"Gov. Whitmer, Media Caught in Another Lie - Anarchist Arrested For Plot to Kidnap and Kill Whitmer Hates President Trump, &#039;Trump is a Tyrant&#039; (VIDEO)\">state government<\/a>, \u2062which she argues \u2062exemplifies a broader issue of New York Democrats \u2062allegedly facilitating Chinese influence within\u2063 the\u200d state. \u2064She\u2063 criticized Hochul&#8217;s\u2064 administration for its \u2064actions, including maintaining ties with China, specifically citing the existence of Chinese police stations and sister city partnerships.<\/p>\n<p>Financial disclosures highlight discrepancies in the reported income of \u200cSun and Hu versus\u200c their ability to afford\u200c luxury properties, leading prosecutors to suspect that their financial gains were linked to illicit activities supporting the Chinese government&#8217;s interests. \u2064During her time\u200b in\u200c office,\u2064 Sun reportedly manipulated state messaging to favor Chinese government\u200c positions and restricted\u2064 interactions\u200b with Taiwanese officials, which is\u2064 significant given China&#8217;s stance\u2064 on \u200bTaiwan.<\/p>\n<p>Stefanik&#8217;s call for an investigation aims to ensure transparency for New York taxpayers regarding the actions \u200dand decisions \u200cmade\u200b by the Hochul administration.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Elise Stefanik calls for investigation into New York governor after former aide charged with being Chinese spy<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1744994\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elise-stefanik\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Elise Stefanik<\/a> (R-NY), House Republican Conference chairwoman, is calling for an investigation into Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kathy-hochul\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Kathy Hochul<\/a> (D-NY) after New York officials charged the governor&rsquo;s former aide over being an alleged foreign agent for the <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/china\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Chinese<\/a> government.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Linda Sun was charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling,&nbsp;and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3141293\/former-hochul-aide-arrested\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>money laundering<\/a> conspiracy. Her husband, Christopher Hu, was also charged with money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/he-fraudulently-claimed-coronavirus-relief-funds-then-faked-his-suicide-to-avoid-prosecution-now-hes-agreed-to-plead-guilty\/\" title=\"He Fraudulently Claimed Coronavirus Relief Funds, Then Faked His Suicide To Avoid Prosecution. Now He\u2019s Agreed To Plead Guilty.\">commit bank fraud<\/a>, and misuse of means of identification, according to Tuesday&rsquo;s 66-page indictment.<\/p>\n<p>Stefanik said she wants a complete investigation into Hochul and her administration &ldquo;so that hardworking New York taxpayers receive the transparency we deserve.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Failed Far Left Democrat Kathy Hochul allowed Communist Chinese spy Linda Sun unfettered access to the highest levels of New York State government,&rdquo; Stefanik said in a statement. &ldquo;From allowing Chinese police stations to maintaining a sister city partnership between NYC and Beijing, this is another example of New York Democrats facilitating the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-drops-plan-to-track-chinese-communist-influence-in-american-schools-report\/\" title=\"Biden Drops Plan To Track Chinese Communist Influence In American Schools: Report\">influence campaign<\/a> of Communist China.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors alleged that Sun made $144,000 as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-endorses-derek-schmidt-in-race-to-unseat-kansas-democrat-gov-laura-kelly\/\" title=\"Trump Endorses Derek Schmidt in Race to Unseat Kansas Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly\">state government worker<\/a> and Hu made less than $1,000 exporting seafood in 2021. But the pair was able to afford a $3.6 million home in Manhasset, New York, and a $1.9 million condo in Honolulu that year, according to financial disclosures via the indictment. Prosecutors argue the money came from a scheme where Sun was boosting the Chinese government and Communist Party views in the New York government.<\/p>\n<p>Sun allegedly engaged in favorable actions toward China during her time in Hochul&rsquo;s office, including changing state messaging of matters important to China and obtaining state proclamations regarding China without authorization, among other things. Emails also suggested Sun focused on heavily limiting Hochul and former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo&rsquo;s interactions with Taiwanese officials, as China does not recognize Taiwan&rsquo;s independent government.<\/p>\n<p>In exchange, co-conspirators with ties to the Chinese government boosted Hu&rsquo;s business exporting lobsters to Beijing, the indictment alleges. Prosecutors did not provide an exact dollar amount on how much the scheme provided to Sun and Hu, but U.S. Attorney Breon Peace put it at &ldquo;millions of dollars.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The indictment said the sums Sun and Hu received through the alleged scheme never made it onto her financial disclosures, which were required to be filled out as an employee of the governor&rsquo;s office. Sun and Hu have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and both were released on a $1.5 million bond and $500,000 bond, respectively.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Hochul told WNYC&rsquo;s <em>All Things Considered<\/em> that she was &ldquo;furious&rdquo; at the allegations and that the charges were &ldquo;a betrayal&rdquo; of the government and its citizens. A spokesperson for Hochul told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Sun&rsquo;s employment was terminated in March 2023 over evidence of misconduct and that the administration has &ldquo;assisted law enforcement throughout this process.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Hochul for comment on Stefanik&rsquo;s call for an investigation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1744994\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1744994\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Elise Stefanik, the House Republican Conference chairwoman from New York, is urging an investigation into Governor Kathy Hochul following charges against Hochul&#8217;s former aide for allegedly acting as a foreign agent for China. Linda Sun faces accusations of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, committing visa fraud, engaging in alien smuggling, and conspiracy to launder money. Her husband, Christopher Hu, has also been charged with money laundering conspiracy and bank fraud. In a 66-page indictment released on Tuesday, prosecutors claim that while Sun earned $144,000 as a state employee and Hu made under $1,000 exporting seafood in 2021, they managed to purchase a $3.6 million home in Manhasset and a $1.9 million condo in Honolulu that same year.<\/p>\n<p>Stefanik criticized Hochul for allowing Sun access to high levels of state government and accused New York Democrats of facilitating Chinese influence campaigns through actions like maintaining partnerships with Beijing. The indictment alleges that during her tenure in Hochul\u2019s office, Sun took steps favorable to China by altering state messaging on issues significant to the country and obtaining proclamations without proper authorization. It also claims she worked to limit interactions between Hochul and Taiwanese officials due to China&#8217;s stance on Taiwan&#8217;s sovereignty.<\/p>\n<p>While prosecutors did not specify how much money was involved in the alleged scheme\u2014estimated by U.S. Attorney Breon Peace at &#8220;millions&#8221;\u2014they noted that these funds were not reported on Sun\u2019s required financial disclosures as an employee of the governor&#8217;s office. Both Sun and Hu have pleaded not guilty; they were released on bonds of $1.5 million and $500,000 respectively.<\/p>\n<p>In response to the allegations against her former aide, Governor Hochul expressed her anger over what she described as a betrayal of public trust but stated that evidence leading to Sun\u2019s termination was found back in March 2023. A spokesperson confirmed that her administration has cooperated with law enforcement throughout this investigation process<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2336662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Stefanik-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[40087,40025,3976,40086,32603],"class_list":["post-2336661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-chinese-spy","tag-elise-stefanik","tag-investigation","tag-new-york-governor","tag-political-news"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Stefanik-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2336661"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336661\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2336662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2336661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2336661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2336661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}