【Wen / Observer Net Wang Yi】A so-called "Chinese agent" case that was hyped by the U.S. political circle and media has temporarily come to an end in a mess.

According to reports from The New York Times, The New York Post, and other media outlets, on December 22 local time, the U.S. Federal District Court in Brooklyn announced that the trial of Linda Sun, a former senior aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, accused of acting as a "Chinese agent" during her tenure, was declared invalid due to the jury's inability to reach a consensus.

The jury foreman told the district court judge that after several days of discussion on the 19 charges against Ms. Sun and her husband, co-defendant Chris Hu, the jury still could not reach a verdict. It is reported that 41-year-old Linda Sun was charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, fraud, and bribery, while 43-year-old Chris Hu was accused of conspiracy to money laundering, fraud, and tax evasion.

Regarding the mistrial, prosecutor Alexander Solomon stated to the court on the 22nd that the U.S. government hopes to quickly re-prosecute the couple. The court has scheduled a hearing on the case progress for January 26, 2026.

The Wall Street Journal pointed out that this case is one of the most closely watched lawsuits by the U.S. Department of Justice in recent years targeting the so-called "Chinese influence in the U.S.", and one of the few cases that did not conclude through a plea agreement but instead went to trial.

The case was formally filed in September 2024. Linda Sun and Chris Hu both refused to plead guilty to the so-called "Chinese agent" charges and were released on bail of $1.5 million and $500,000 respectively. In June of this year, the prosecution again brought charges against them during an investigation into pandemic relief fund fraud. The case opened in November, with the prosecution summoning 41 witnesses and the defense summoning 8 witnesses.

The prosecution alleged that Linda Sun, while serving as an advisor to Hochul and former governor Cuomo, used her position to "serve the interests of the Chinese government," gained millions of dollars in benefits, and facilitated her husband's business activities.

The prosecution claimed that during her time in the New York state government, Linda Sun ensured the governor avoided "angering Beijing" by meeting with the Chinese Taipei delegation and criticizing China's ethnic minority policies. She was also accused of maintaining friendly relations with Chinese diplomats and pro-China groups in private.

It is funny that for these accusations, the evidence provided by the prosecution was very "stretched", including several salted duck. According to court documents, Linda Sun received millions of dollars in kickbacks and gifts, including luxury handbags, a $2 million Hawaiian villa, a $3.6 million house in Long Island, and a Ferrari sports car, with the total value of luxury goods amounting to about $6 million. In addition, she accepted several salted ducks sent by the Chinese side for her parents.

Linda Sun (right) and Chris Hu (left) standing behind their lawyers. Screenshot from video

The defense team argued that establishing connections with Chinese diplomats and community figures was part of Linda Sun's job responsibilities, reflecting the reality of the approximately 600,000 Chinese-American voters in New York City. They emphasized that Linda Sun's actions did not conflict with U.S. foreign policy.

A defense lawyer also mocked the prosecution's use of salted duck as core evidence in the case, clearly indicating a lack of "solid evidence".

The prosecution also claimed that Linda Sun helped New York State obtain scarce personal protective equipment during the pandemic, pushing the state government to sign contracts with suppliers recommended by China. She also forged documents falsely claiming that the Chinese side supported two suppliers, one belonging to her cousin and the other operated by a business partner of her husband Chris Hu.

Chris Hu's lawyer stated that the demand for personal protective equipment was very high during the pandemic, so there was no need for bribes, and his business activities had nothing to do with contacts in China.

Linda Sun's defense lawyer also pointed out that the U.S. government sued her because she "made too much money", and "cooperating with Chinese representatives does not mean she is an agent," and emphasized that the prosecution "has no evidence showing that Mr. Hu obtained business due to his wife's relationship."

The jury also seemed unconvinced by the prosecution's allegations. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post analyzed on the 23rd that the reason the trial lasted three weeks might be partly due to the Trump administration's adjustment of the scope of application of the Foreign Agents Registration Act this year, weakening its regulation of political lobbying behavior, and tending to use it for "traditional espionage cases".

Last week, the district court judge mentioned that the jury was "extremely independent," and people speculated that the possibility of a deadlock was increasing. On the fourth day of deliberation, the jury submitted a note to the court stating that "no juror's judgment could be changed on all charges," and pointed out that "there were fundamental disagreements over the evidence and legal interpretations." Eventually, the court announced the mistrial on the 22nd.

Regarding the prosecution's allegations in this case, the spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in the U.S. stated that China "firmly opposes the U.S. government and media's hype about the so-called 'Chinese agents'."

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously commented on the U.S. hype about "Chinese agents interfering in local politics," saying that China never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries, and it is clear to the international community who is arbitrarily interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7586984883226985000/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.