Linda Sun, former Kathy Hochul aide, accused of scheming to advance interests of China

Linda Solar, a former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, schemed to advance the pursuits of China whereas working in New York State authorities, federal prosecutors alleged in an indictment unsealed Tuesday.

The indictment prices Solar with failure to register as a overseas agent, visa fraud, alien smuggling and cash laundering conspiracy.

Her husband, Christopher Hu, allegedly facilitated the switch of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in kickbacks for private acquire, prosecutors stated.

Solar and Hu every pleaded not responsible throughout their arraignment in Brooklyn federal court docket Tuesday afternoon. Solar appeared in a black pantsuit with a pink shirt, whereas her husband appeared in slacks and a pale gown shirt.

Whereas working for the Cuomo and Hochul administrations, Solar allegedly acted as an unregistered agent of China whereas her husband allegedly laundered the proceeds, enabling them to purchase a $3.6 million home in Manhasset and a $1.9 million rental in Hawaii, prosecutors stated.

Solar allegedly blocked Taiwan representatives from entry to the governor, labored to stop conferences with Taiwanese officers and sought to “form the general public statements” the governor made on China, prosecutors stated.

“That is no extraordinary monetary fraud,” Assistant U.S. Lawyer Alexander Solomon stated in the course of the arraignment.

Prosecutors stated Solar and Hu operated greater than 80 completely different accounts and many of the proof is in Chinese language, together with a WeChat message by which Solar is quoted telling a Chinese language official, “I’ve executed many issues to make the connection … flourish.”

Solar was launched on a $1.5 million bond, and her husband was launched on a $500,000 bond. Below the phrases of her launch, Solar is to not have any contact with the Chinese language consulate. Their subsequent court docket look has been scheduled for Sept. 25.

In a press release to ABC Information on Tuesday night time, attorneys for Solar referred to as the fees “inflammatory.”

“We’re dissatisfied by the submitting of those prices, that are inflammatory and look like the product of an excessively aggressive prosecution,” the assertion from her attorneys, Jarrod Schaeffer and Ken Abell, learn. “We’re additionally troubled by points of the federal government’s investigation. As we stated immediately in court docket, our shopper is keen to train her proper to a speedy trial and to defend in opposition to these accusations within the correct discussion board—a court docket of legislation.”

Solar and her husband had been arrested at their Lengthy Island residence Tuesday morning, in keeping with federal prosecutors from the Japanese District of New York and the FBI. The FBI had searched the Manhasset residence in July.

Solar was employed by the Government Chamber greater than a decade in the past, earlier than being fired final 12 months, in keeping with Avi Small, Hochul’s press secretary.

“We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering proof of misconduct, instantly reported her actions to legislation enforcement and have assisted legislation enforcement all through this course of,” Small stated in a press release to ABC Information.

Whereas Cuomo was in workplace, his rep advised ABC Information that Solar had “little to no interplay with the governor.”

“Nationwide safety is crucial and should be free from overseas affect,” learn a press release from Wealthy Azzopardi, who reps Cuomo. “Whereas Ms Solar was promoted to Deputy Chief of Workers within the subsequent administration, throughout our time she labored in a handful of businesses and was one in every of many neighborhood liaisons who had little to no interplay with the governor.”

Solar labored in state authorities for about 15 years earlier than she was fired final 12 months from her job as deputy commissioner for strategic enterprise growth on the New York State Division of Labor. She beforehand served as Hochul’s deputy chief of workers and within the administration of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The indictment alleges that, performing on the request of Chinese language authorities officers and representatives of the Chinese language Communist Celebration, Solar blocked Taiwanese authorities officers from gaining access to high-level New York State officers, modified New York State officers’ messaging about China and organized conferences for visiting delegations from the PRC authorities with New York State authorities officers.

In return for these and different actions, Solar allegedly acquired financial and different advantages from China, together with the facilitation of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in transactions for the China-based enterprise actions of Hu; journey advantages; tickets to occasions; promotion of an in depth household good friend’s enterprise; employment for Solar’s cousin within the PRC; and Nanjing-style salted geese ready by a PRC authorities official’s private chef that had been delivered to the residence of Solar’s mother and father, in keeping with the indictment.

“As alleged, whereas showing to serve the individuals of New York as Deputy Chief of Workers inside the New York State Government Chamber, the defendant and her husband truly labored to additional the pursuits of the Chinese language authorities and the CCP,” United States Lawyer Breon Peace stated in a press release. “The illicit scheme enriched the defendant’s household to the tune of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.”

A “livid” Gov Hochul referred to as the allegations in opposition to Solar “brazen,” “stunning” and “a betrayal of belief” throughout an look on WNYC.

“The scope of what she was able to doing was stunning. I’m livid, outraged by this habits and we are going to let the method play out,” Hochul stated.

Hochul declined to disclose the character of her actions, saying, “It is going to be popping out in court docket hearings.” She stated her administration reported the misconduct to the Justice Division.

“She primarily labored for Andrew Cuomo for a lot of extra years. She was with me simply a short while, about 15 months,” Hochul stated.