On Monday, a federal judge declared a mistrial in the corruption case against former New York state aide Linda Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, after a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
All 19 counts were deadlocked, leaving the case unresolved and setting the stage for a potential retrial.
Mistrial Declared After Deadlock
Judge Brian Cogan announced the mistrial after the jury returned a note stating they were unable to agree on any of the 19 charges.
The decision followed a nearly month-long trial that saw intense deliberations and re-deliberations.
The jurors’ note read: “Your honor, after extensive deliberations and re-deliberations the jury remains unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The jurors positions are firmly held.”
During the proceedings, Judge Cogan was informed that an alternate juror had replaced a juror who had to leave due to prior travel commitments.
Despite this change, the panel remained deadlocked on all counts.
Charges and Allegations
Sun faces charges of acting as an unregistered agent for China, visa fraud, money laundering, and other related offenses, while Hu is charged with money laundering, bank fraud, and tax evasion.
Both defendants are also jointly charged with wire fraud, bribery, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
These accusations stem from alleged actions that allegedly benefited them financially at the expense of the state.
Sun, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China, held several high-profile positions over roughly 15 years, including deputy chief of staff to Governor Kathy Hochul and deputy diversity officer under former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Her roles gave her access to state contracts and policy decisions that prosecutors say she leveraged for personal gain.
She was fired in 2023 after the Hochul administration discovered the alleged misconduct.
Prosecutorial Narrative
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Sun used her position to subtly advance Beijing’s agenda in exchange for millions of dollars in financial benefits.
They cited emails and phone messages that showed her working to prevent representatives of Taiwan’s government from interacting with the governor’s office.
In one instance, Sun even scuttled an invitation for Governor Cuomo to meet Taiwan’s president while on a visit to the U.S.
Prosecutors also claimed she pushed to remove references to the Uighurs, a persecuted Muslim minority group in China, from official statements.
They alleged she forged Governor Hochul’s signature on official letters so that Chinese officials could obtain visas to enter the country.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Solomon said in his closing arguments that Sun “bragged repeatedly to her handlers in the Chinese government about what a good asset she had been.”
In return, prosecutors say Sun reaped millions of dollars in financial benefits, including helping turn her husband’s fledgling business of exporting American lobsters to China into a lucrative enterprise.
The couple allegedly used a system of cash pickups, shell companies, and payments through third parties and relatives to hide the ill-gained proceeds, as detailed in spreadsheets maintained by Hu.
These spreadsheets, prosecutors said, documented the flow of money that enabled the couple to purchase a multimillion-dollar home on Long Island, a $1.9 million condominium in Hawaii, a new Ferrari, and other luxury cars.
Prosecutors also claimed that Sun and Hu enjoyed other perks, such as Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by a Chinese official’s personal chef.
Solomon concluded that “Linda Sun betrayed the state of New York to enrich herself… you saw it time and again, a clear pattern of corruption.”
Defense Arguments
Kenneth Abell, Sun’s lawyer, acknowledged that she carefully cultivated official relationships with Chinese consulate officials, but he also pointed to instances when Sun met with and was honored by the local Taiwanese community.
Abell said, “She was just being careful… It was not her place to push a policy on Taiwan.” He also noted that no New York governor has ever met with the president of Taiwan.
Abell added that prosecutors did not provide any evidence to support their claim that Sun forged Governor Hochul’s signature on visa documents for Chinese officials.
He questioned why Chinese companies would even need to make bribes to win state contracts during the pandemic, arguing that New York and other states were spending freely and quickly as they stockpiled critical medical supplies.
Abell said the story has huge holes and that the government is trying hard to fit the facts into its narrative. He added that the prosecution’s narrative is unsupported by evidence.
Lifestyle and Wealth Accumulation
The couple’s sudden riches allowed them to live lavishly, purchasing a multimillion-dollar home on Long Island, a $1.9 million condominium in Hawaii, a new Ferrari, and other luxury cars.
Prosecutors also claimed that Sun and Hu enjoyed other perks, such as Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by a Chinese official’s personal chef.
Key Takeaways
- The jury was deadlocked on all 19 counts, leading to a mistrial declared by Judge Brian Cogan.
- Prosecutors allege Sun used her state role to advance China’s interests, secure kickbacks, and launder millions of dollars.
- The defense maintains that Sun’s actions were lawful and that the prosecution’s narrative is flawed.
Closing Thoughts
The mistrial leaves the case unresolved, with prosecutors indicating a desire to retry the defendants.
The outcome will hinge on whether a new jury can break the deadlock and determine the validity of the alleged corruption.
Hu’s lawyer, Nicole Boeckmann, said, “Chris Hu has been adamant that he is innocent on all counts and maintains this position.”
