FBI Director Kash Patel has expressed his concerns regarding the recent bribery allegations involving a former aide to Governors Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul, all linked to a dubious PPE (personal protective equipment) scheme that surged during the pandemic.
This aide, Linda Sun, is now confronted with even graver accusations. She is not only alleged to have participated in a significant fraud operation but also to have covertly acted as a foreign agent for Communist China.
This situation has prompted the Trump administration to raise alarms about the extent of disloyalty within America’s political framework. Patel asserts that the FBI will not overlook this matter.
“While Americans were confined at home and in dire need of PPE, Linda Sun and Chris Hu profited – allegedly enriching themselves while catering to CCP interests,” Patel stated on X. “This is corruption that jeopardized lives. The FBI will not accept public officials who betray their country.”
Sun and her spouse, Chris Hu, are said to have amassed nearly $8 million in illicit funds after Sun facilitated pandemic equipment contracts between New York and two vendors based in China. She had previously been associated with a COVID kickback scheme worth millions. Now, prosecutors allege that she also falsified documents indicating that the vendors had been sanctioned by Chinese authorities.
Even more troubling, they claim her husband maintained a record of the couple’s anticipated earnings in a spreadsheet simply titled “Me.”
“While Americans were locked down and desperate for PPE, Linda Sun and Chris Hu cashed in – allegedly lining their pockets while serving CCP interests,” Patel reiterated on X.
During the initial outbreak of the pandemic, Sun was engaged in securing PPE for the state of New York. Leveraging her political connections and relationships with the Chinese government, she ensured that essential supplies were delivered. However, according to prosecutors, she manipulated the process.
On March 20, she allegedly received a vendor list from the Jiangsu Department of Commerce, eliminated the top recommended supplier, and substituted it with a company owned by her cousin.
Sun was taken into custody in September for purportedly serving as an unregistered agent of China, leveraging her influence to advance Beijing’s interests in return for substantial financial rewards.
Her spouse has been charged separately for laundering the funds through bank accounts established under a relative’s name. Currently, both individuals are confronted with additional charges, which include honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and bribery.
This month, another case was overseen by Director Patel and the FBI, which also involved China.
Two Chinese nationals are facing numerous federal charges after allegedly smuggling a hazardous crop-destroying fungus into the United States, raising significant national security alarms regarding potential agroterrorism.
As per a complaint, the accused individuals—Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34—are alleged to have introduced Fusarium graminearum into the nation. This fungus is recognized for causing severe plant diseases, especially in corn, rice, and barley, and poses a considerable risk to the U.S. food supply.
