Linda Sun, a former aide to New York governors, stands accused of exploiting a global pandemic for personal gain, funneling $44 million in COVID supply contracts to family-connected businesses while secretly acting as a Chinese government agent.
Key Takeaways
- Linda Sun and husband, Chris Hu face fraud charges related to COVID-19 supply procurement schemes while Sun worked as deputy chief diversity officer under Governor Andrew Cuomo
- The couple allegedly received $2.3 million in kickbacks from $44 million in state contracts fraudulently directed to companies connected to their family
- These new charges come on top of previous accusations that Sun acted as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government, including suppressing mentions of Chinese human rights issues
- Sun was fired from Governor Hochul’s administration in 2023 after evidence of misconduct was discovered
- The couple allegedly used proceeds from their schemes to purchase multimillion-dollar properties and luxury cars
Pandemic Profiteering by Former Cuomo and Hochul Aide
In a stunning example of government corruption during a national crisis, Linda Sun, who served as an aide to both Governor Andrew Cuomo and Governor Kathy Hochul, has been charged with exploiting her position to profit from emergency COVID-19 supply contracts. A federal grand jury delivered a superseding indictment, unsealed on June 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, detailing how Sun used her role as deputy chief diversity officer to direct millions in taxpayer dollars to businesses with family connections during the height of the pandemic when critical supplies were scarce.
“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 Elaborate Fraud Scheme
According to federal prosecutors, Sun leveraged her connections in China to help New York obtain desperately needed personal protective equipment during the pandemic’s early days. However, instead of acting in the public interest, she allegedly forged documents falsely claiming that Chinese contacts had recommended two specific companies, both linked to her and her husband, Chris Hu. This deception resulted in New York state paying more than $44 million to these companies, with approximately $2.3 million funneled back to Hu through various channels designed to hide the couple’s involvement.
The indictment details how Sun and Hu used the millions in kickbacks from these fraudulent arrangements to finance a lavish lifestyle, purchasing multimillion-dollar properties and luxury vehicles while ordinary Americans struggled through the pandemic. The scheme represents a particularly egregious betrayal of public trust during a time of national emergency, when government officials were expected to prioritize public health and safety above personal gain.
Chinese Government Connections Deepen the Scandal
These new charges add another layer to Sun’s mounting legal troubles. She and her husband were already facing serious accusations of acting as illicit agents for the Chinese government, allegedly using her positions in New York state government to advance Chinese interests in exchange for financial benefits. The earlier charges claim Sun systematically worked to suppress mentions of Chinese human rights abuses in state communications and used her influence to promote policies favorable to the Chinese government.
“Linda Sun, former aide to both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is facing fraud charges on top of previous accusations of acting as an unregistered agent of the Chinese regime.”
Fallout and Defense
Governor Hochul’s administration terminated Sun in 2023 after “discovering evidence of misconduct.” This action came too late to prevent the alleged fraud schemes that had already diverted millions in taxpayer funds during the Cuomo administration. The case highlights serious concerns about vetting procedures for government officials in sensitive positions, particularly those with international connections that could create conflicts of interest.
Sun’s attorney, Jarrod Schaeffer, has dismissed the charges, stating: “The newest allegations continue the government’s trend of making and publicizing feverish accusations unmoored from the facts and evidence that we expect will come out at trial.” However, the detailed nature of the federal indictment, including specific financial transactions and forged documents, presents substantial evidence of wrongdoing during a critical time when Americans were counting on honest government management of the pandemic response.
