Retired FBI agent speaks on former Hochul aide accused of acting as agent to China

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A former aide to Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been charged with secretly acting as an agent for the Chinese government. Linda Sun and her husband were arrested Tuesday morning at their home in Long Island.

Sun and her husband have entered a plea of not guilty to the criminal charges against them, following allegations by prosecutors that they acted as agents for the Chinese government, furthering Beijing's interests for millions of dollars in compensation and gifts.

"They are spies that's the way of the world. We do it, every country does it," said Bernie Tolber, a former FBI special agent.

Sun served in various roles within the New York State government for nearly a decade, including as Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Kathy Hochul and Deputy Diversity Officer for former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Federal prosecutors allege that Sun prevented representatives of the Taiwanese government from accessing high-level state officials. She is accused of modifying state government messaging on matters pertaining to the Chinese government.

In an interview with WIVB News 4, former FBI agent Bernie Tolbert said that these situations are more common than one may think.

"They say intelligence is the second oldest occupation of the world next to prostitution," Tolbert said. "They find somebody who may be vulnerable or who's willing to assist them and they try to reap whatever harvest they can."

Sun is facing charges for violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, engaging in money laundering, and aiding in visa fraud and illegal entry into the U.S.

"I didn't see anything that related to national security," Tolbert said. "No classified information was exchanged or gotten or leaked or anything passed. So this is more along the lines of a business getting a country advantages that will perhaps down the road lead into classified areas of classified material."

News 4 asked Tolbert how the FBI discovered Sun's illegal activities.

"Either someone brought it to the attention of the U.S. government that there's a person of interest or there's another investigation that's being conducted and you get wind of it on an overhear," Tolbert said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Hochul's office announced that Sun, who was hired by the Executive Chamber a decade ago, was terminated in 2023 after evidence of misconduct was discovered.

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt has expressed that a spy operating under two administrations represents a significant security breach.

"She just happens to be in a position where she worked for Hochul and Cuomo and had access, but I don't think there's even a shred of suggestion that anybody in the U.S. government was complicit in what was a part of this," concluded Tolbert.

Sun was released on a $1.5 million bond, and her husband on a $500,000 bond. They are both scheduled to return to court on September 25th.