(Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with additional information about the charges)
The FBI Tuesday morning arrested a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul along with the aide’s husband, reports ABC News.
Prosecutors charged Linda Sun with failing to register as a foreign agent, visa fraud, alien smuggling and money laundering conspiracy, according to court documents unsealed today, according to CNN.
Her husband Chris Hu faces money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit bank fraud charges.
“This individual (Sun) was hired by the Executive Chamber more than a decade ago. We terminated her employment in March 2023 after discovering evidence of misconduct, immediately reported her actions to law enforcement and have assisted law enforcement throughout this process,” said Avi Small, spokesperson for the Governor in a statement to ABC.
It was just about six weeks ago when authorities raided the couple’s $3.5 million home in Manhasset.
“A lot of the allegations in this indictment are frankly perplexing, overly inflammatory,” said defense attorney Seth DuCharme to reporters. “As you heard in court today, we are looking forward to our day in court. The defendants are exercising their right to a speedy trial as soon as they can; we have a lot of confidence in Chris and in Linda.”
The Daily News reports Sun rose to the ranks of Deputy Chief of Staff in 2021 and left to become a deputy commissioner in the New York Department of Labor in December 2022 before being fired just a few months later.
The Governor’s office decline to comment on the extent of the evidence it gathered before firing Sun.
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