A former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, accused of acting as a covert Chinese agent, allegedly boasted that Hochul was “much more obedient” than Andrew Cuomo and said she could steer Hochul’s public remarks to mirror Chinese talking points, according to texts introduced at Linda Sun’s trial. Those messages and other reported actions suggest a pattern of influence during the pandemic era, including arranging messages for Lunar New Year videos and steering official invitations and contracts in ways that raise serious questions about loyalty and judgment. The evidence presented includes text exchanges, allegations of forged signatures, and claims of financial corruption tied to pandemic procurement. This piece lays out the core allegations, the recorded messages, and why Republicans see this as a major breach of public trust.
The trial material includes a message where Sun allegedly wrote, “She (Hochul) is much more obedient than the governor (Cuomo),” followed by, “The deputy governor listens to me more than the governor does.” Those are not casual observations; within the context of her communications with Chinese officials, they read like a brag about access and control. The texts were presented as part of an effort to convince high-level officials to have public figures record China-friendly clips as the world emerged from COVID. That effort centered on what should have been a harmless Lunar New Year greeting, but the implications are far larger.
According to prosecutors’ allegations, Sun offered to “make sure” certain phrasing made it into Hochul’s recorded remarks, and she explicitly asked for talking points she could insert into the script. The plain takeaway is that a state official’s office may have been used to echo language favored by a foreign power at a time when the country was still reeling. Republicans argue this looks like influence peddling that crosses a line from poor judgment into national security risk. The timing, tied to pandemic recovery, only heightens the concern.
The allegations extend beyond a single video. Witnesses and documents presented at the trial reportedly show forged letters inviting Chinese provincial dignitaries to meet with former Governor Cuomo, efforts to block a meeting with Taiwanese officials during a critical phase in 2020, and an apparent omission of the Uyghurs from a speech that might have drawn attention to human rights abuses. Those acts, if proven, suggest strategic shaping of New York’s public posture in ways that aligned with Beijing’s interests.
Financial allegations have also been central to the case. Prosecutors say Sun and her husband steered lucrative contracts to Chinese firms for masks and ventilators during the pandemic, and that the couple accepted and laundered millions in bribes, buying luxury homes, exotic cars, and lavish jewelry. The story Republicans are telling is simple: China influences, cronies enrich themselves, and elected officials end up compromised. That narrative explains why conservative lawmakers and commentators have demanded fuller accountability.
Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik publicized the video Hochul recorded at Sun’s request and declared, “Not only is Kathy Hochul the most corrupt and Worst Governor in America, but she’s also the most compromised.” Stefanik has used the case to bolster her gubernatorial run, arguing that the alleged breaches show a pattern of vulnerability to foreign influence. Conservatives see this as proof that strong oversight and decisive action are needed to prevent foreign actors from shaping American policy and messaging.
Sun faces charges ranging from violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act to visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy, with additional counts added in mid-2025 alleging she helped steer pandemic contracts to particular companies. The accusations paint a picture of an official who allegedly traded influence and access for personal gain while the public suffered through a deadly outbreak. Those facts, if proven in court, would be alarming and justify a vigorous response.
What remains to be determined in court is the full extent of coordination and culpability, and whether Hochul herself knowingly promoted content suggested by a foreign national. For now, the combination of explicit messages, allegedly forged documents, and financial irregularities creates a compelling case for Republicans that foreign influence reached into state government during a vulnerable period. The trial will sort out the facts, but the political consequences are already unfolding.
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