Former Mayor Pleads Guilty to Acting as Illegal Agent for China

The ex-mayor of a Southern California city, Eileen Li Wang, admitted in federal court on Friday that she acted as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government. This plea was part of what prosecutors are calling a blatant effort to promote pro-China propaganda in the U.S.

Wang, who formerly served as mayor of Arcadia, California, entered a guilty plea for failing to inform U.S. authorities of her actions as a foreign agent—a serious offense that could lead to up to ten years in federal prison. Besides this, she faces three years of supervised release and financial penalties, including a $250,000 fine and a $100 special assessment fee.

Federal prosecutors allege that from 2020 to 2022, Wang operated “under the direction and control” of officials from the Chinese government, actively collaborating with individuals in the U.S. to disseminate pro-China messages. This behavior allegedly occurred before her election to the Arcadia City Council in 2022 and subsequent ascendance to the mayoral position.

During her court appearance, Wang, dressed in a navy suit with gold buttons, opted to speak in English, despite the presence of a Chinese interpreter. The judge ensured she understood the gravity of her plea by questioning her thoroughly about her knowledge of the case.

After pleading guilty, Wang waived her right to be indicted by a grand jury and also relinquished her right to a jury trial. The Justice Department shared the potential penalties she could face for this felony, and Wang acknowledged that she understood the consequences, including conditions related to supervised release.

At one point, the defense attempted to forego reading the government’s supporting evidence, but the prosecution insisted that it be read aloud in court. When asked directly about her defense, Wang simply stated, “Yes, I’m guilty.”

The judge agreed to the plea and scheduled Wang’s sentencing for October 6, 2026, at 9 a.m. Until then, she has been released on bail and will have the chance to speak before the court at her sentencing.

This guilty plea is part of an ongoing case that federal authorities have flagged as indicative of the Chinese government’s attempts to influence American institutions and public perception through covert means. Court documents reveal that Wang collaborated with a convicted Chinese agent, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, to run a website that pretended to be a local Chinese-American news source.

Prosecutors depicted this website as a propaganda outlet for the Chinese Communist Party, distributing content created by Chinese government officials. In one instance, a Chinese official provided Wang with a draft article denying allegations of human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region, which she promptly posted online and shared with officials.

Additionally, Wang allegedly contacted another convicted Chinese agent, John Chen, who is said to have connections with Chinese intelligence. She reportedly requested him to relay messages “that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to send.”

Statements from federal officials underscored the seriousness of her actions. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg remarked, “Those elected to public office should act only for the American citizens they represent,” expressing concern about her previous actions while in a trusted public role.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Ezeiri noted that this case is part of broader efforts to combat foreign influence operations. He emphasized that individuals who follow orders from foreign governments threaten the integrity of U.S. democracy.

FBI Deputy Director Roman Rosavsky echoed these sentiments, calling Wang’s actions a cautionary tale for those attempting to sway U.S. politics for foreign interests. Following the announcement of the federal charges, Wang resigned from her role on the Arcadia City Council and her mayoral position.

The city has asserted that the alleged conduct took place before Wang took office and claimed an internal review showed she had no involvement in local government decisions or finances. However, officials acknowledged the disturbing nature of the allegations, stating, “We take them seriously.”