Ex-top aide to N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul was a secret Chinese agent, prosecutors say

A former prime aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was arrested Tuesday on federal prices of appearing as a undercover agent of the Chinese language authorities, authorities stated.

Linda Solar, 41, is accused of utilizing her high-ranking positions in state authorities to serve the pursuits of the Chinese language authorities and the Chinese language Communist Social gathering in trade for hundreds of thousands of {dollars}. Her husband, Chris Hu, 40, was additionally arrested within the alleged scheme.

Solar was charged with violating and conspiring to violate the International Brokers Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling and cash laundering. Hu was charged with cash laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud and misuse of technique of identification.

Each pleaded not responsible Tuesday afternoon. Solar was set to be launched on a $1.5 million bond, her husband on a $500,000 bond.

“We’re disenchanted by the submitting of those prices, that are inflammatory and look like the product of an excessively aggressive prosecution,” Solar’s attorneys, Jarrod Schaeffer and Kenneth Abell, stated in a press release after the listening to. “We’re additionally troubled by features of the federal government’s investigation. As we stated in the present day in court docket, our consumer is keen to train her proper to a speedy trial and to defend in opposition to these accusations within the correct discussion board—a court docket of legislation.”

The arrests come six weeks after FBI brokers searched the couple’s $3.5 million house in a gated group in Manhasset on Lengthy Island. 

Solar labored in state authorities for roughly 15 years, holding positions within the administration of then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier than turning into Hochul’s deputy chief of employees, in keeping with her LinkedIn profile.

Avi Small, a spokesman for Hochul, stated Solar was employed greater than a decade in the past and fired in March 2023 after “proof of misconduct” was found. Small stated Hochul’s employees instantly reported her actions to legislation enforcement and have assisted the authorities working the case.

Based on the 64-page indictment, Solar blocked Taiwanese authorities representatives from having access to high-ranking New York state officers and altered the messaging of state officers on problems with significance to the Chinese language authorities — all on the request of Chinese language officers. Solar additionally helped Chinese language authorities officers journey to the U.S. and meet with New York officers by offering unauthorized invitation letters from high-level state officers, in keeping with the indictment.

“Solar’s unauthorized invitation letters for the PRC authorities delegation constituted false statements made in reference to immigration paperwork and induced the overseas residents into unlawfully getting into the USA,” Brooklyn federal prosecutors stated in a press launch.

“Solar by no means registered as a overseas agent with the Lawyer Common, and in reality actively hid that she took actions on the order, request, or course of PRC authorities and the CCP representatives.”

In return, Solar acquired hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in transactions for the China-based enterprise actions of her husband, tickets to occasions, employment for her cousin in China and Nanjing-style salted geese that have been ready by a Chinese language authorities official’s private chef and delivered to the residence of Solar’s dad and mom, in keeping with prosecutors.

The couple used the cash to purchase their house on Lengthy Island, in addition to a $2 million condominium in Honolulu and luxurious automobiles, together with a 2024 Ferrari, prosecutors stated.

Liu Pengyu, the spokesman for the Chinese language embassy in Washington, stated U.S. authorities have introduced related instances previously solely to see them disintegrate.

“I’m not conscious of the particular particulars. However lately, the U.S. authorities and media have continuously overvalued the so-called ‘Chinese language brokers’ narratives, a lot of which have later been confirmed unfaithful,” he stated. “China requires its residents abroad to adjust to the legal guidelines and rules of the host nation, and we firmly oppose the groundlessly slandering and smearing focusing on China.”

Based on her authorities bio, Solar was appointed deputy chief of employees to Hochul, a Democrat, in September 2021. On the time, she was the highest-appointed Asian American within the administration.

After leaving Hochul’s workplace, she served briefly as a deputy secretary within the state Labor Division.