NEW YORK: A former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul was charged on Tuesday (Sep 3) with secretly performing as an agent of the Chinese language authorities in trade for hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in compensation and presents, together with meals of gourmand duck.
Linda Solar, 41, and her husband Chris Hu, 40, pleaded not responsible to legal fees earlier than US Justice of the Peace Decide Peggy Kuo in Brooklyn, after being arrested on Tuesday morning.
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn stated that whereas working in state authorities, Solar blocked Taiwanese officers from assembly with officers, and sought to rearrange for a high-level New York state official to go to China.
In trade, Chinese language authorities representatives allegedly organized for hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in transactions for Hu, who had enterprise actions in China.
Prosecutors stated Solar and Hu used cash to purchase a 2024 Ferrari Roma sports activities automotive, in addition to property on New York’s Lengthy Island and in Honolulu price about US$6 million, prosecutors stated
Different presents included Nanjing-style salted geese ready by a Chinese language authorities official’s private chef and delivered to the house of Solar’s mother and father, prosecutors stated.
Hochul was not accused of any wrongdoing. Her workplace fired Solar in March 2023 after discovering proof of misconduct, reported Solar’s actions instantly to authorities, and has assisted regulation enforcement all through the method, a spokesperson for the governor stated.
Kuo ordered Solar launched on a US$1.5 million bond and Hu on a US$500,000 bond. Their subsequent court docket look is Sep 25.
“Our shopper is understandably upset that these fees have been introduced,” Solar’s lawyer Jarrod Schaeffer advised reporters after the listening to.
A spokesman for China’s embassy in Washington didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Solar grew to become Hochul’s deputy chief of employees in September 2021, after working in numerous state companies.
The US Division of Justice has lately cracked down on folks accused of engaged on behalf of adversaries reminiscent of China and Russia, with out registering with the US authorities as required by regulation.
Final month, Chinese language educational Wang Shujun was convicted in federal court docket in Brooklyn of gathering details about New York-based activists supporting democracy in China, and sharing his findings with Beijing.
Solar faces eight counts, together with failure to register beneath the Overseas Brokers Registration Act and cash laundering conspiracy. Hu faces three counts, together with financial institution fraud conspiracy.
