Former State Official’s Alleged Comments on Hochul
A former state official accused of being a Chinese agent reportedly claimed that Kathy Hochul was “much more docile” compared to her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo.
During the corruption trial of a former aide in Albany, evidence revealed that Linda Sun made these controversial remarks while persuading Hochul, then serving as Cuomo’s lieutenant governor, to create a Lunar New Year video for the Chinese consulate in New York.
In a message sent on January 25, 2021, to Chinese consulate official Li Lihua, Sun expressed, “She is much more obedient than the governor.” Moments later, she asserted in another text to Huang Ping, who headed the consulate, that “the lieutenant governor listens to me better than the governor.”
The messages discussed in the Brooklyn federal court indicate that Sun facilitated Hochul’s participation in recording a video wishing a “Happy New Year” to viewers. Although Chinese authorities had initially requested Cuomo for the video, Sun implied that Hochul would likely step in instead.
One of Sun’s messages suggested, “Let me ask you, but maybe LG can do it,” referring to Hochul, to which another Chinese official responded positively.
In a separate two-minute video, Hochul can be heard shouting Ping’s name. Meanwhile, prosecutors pointed out that a state employee responsible for both Cuomo and Hochul allegedly arranged for Ping’s personal chef to serve gourmet cured duck to Sun’s family during this time. Hochul is under suspicion for acting as an unregistered foreign agent for China.
Furthermore, Sun is said to have offered substantial business to Hochul’s husband, Chris Hu, who runs a seafood export company, alongside various favors to Chinese officials in return for items like ducks and concert tickets.
Prosecutors claim that the benefits stemming from this corruption scandal enabled Sun and Hu to live lavishly, with a Ferrari Roma and properties worth millions in Long Island and Hawaii.
Sun was removed from her state position in 2023 amidst misconduct allegations, but she has continued to assert her innocence.
