Arcadia Mayor Resigns Amid Federal Charges
Arcadia’s Mayor Eileen Wang has stepped down from the City Council following federal allegations of acting unlawfully as a Chinese agent.
The Department of Justice disclosed that Wang was charged for “acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China.” This raises concerns, as she was purportedly serving the interests of the Chinese government while in public office.
“It’s alarming that an elected official could spread propaganda for the Chinese government,” commented Patrick Grundy, from the FBI’s Los Angeles office. He emphasized the commitment of the FBI to address such threats from foreign adversaries.
Wang was first elected to the city council in November 2022, and Arcadia, situated about 32 miles from Los Angeles, has over 50,000 residents. The city announced her resignation effective immediately.
“When individuals operate under the influence of foreign governments, it jeopardizes our democracy,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Esseri. He underscored the government’s resolve to safeguard the nation from foreign interference.
The charges indicate that from 2020 to 2022, Wang, alongside another individual, worked under instructions from Chinese Communist Party officials, collaborating with people in the U.S. to promote China’s agenda.
The accompanying individual had already pleaded guilty in late 2025 to similar charges and is serving a sentence. It is claimed that Wang’s articles included pre-written content from Chinese officials, particularly regarding issues like human rights in Xinjiang.
According to a statement from Chinese officials, “There’s no genocide in Xinjiang, nor forced labor in any production. Such claims harm China’s reputation.”
Wang quickly posted the related article on her website and made adjustments based on feedback from Chinese authorities. In one exchange, a Chinese official expressed gratitude for her actions.
The Justice Department noted her connections with John Chen, a Chinese intelligence officer previously sentenced for illicit activities in the United States.
Wang acknowledged in her plea agreement that she did not inform authorities of her actions for China, neglected to disclose her foreign ties, and failed to identify sponsored content on her platform.
“Public officials must serve the American people they represent,” stated John A. Eisenberg from the National Security division. He expressed deep concern about Wang’s undisclosed connections to foreign entities.
