Mistrial Declared in Case of Ex‑New York Aide Accused of Selling Influence to China; Prosecutors Seek Quick Retrial

A federal judge on Monday declared a mistrial in the corruption prosecution of former New York aide Linda Sun after jurors told the court they were hopelessly deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous verdict on all 19 counts against her and her husband, Chris Hu.

The Brooklyn jury reported it remained divided even after extended deliberations and the substitution of an alternate juror for one who had to leave for prior travel commitments. In a note to U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan, the foreperson wrote: "After extensive deliberations and re-deliberations the jury remains unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The jurors' positions are firmly held."

Prosecution Says Retrial Will Follow

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Solomon told the court the government intends to retry the case "as soon as possible." The indictment accused Sun of using her state government roles to quietly advance Beijing's priorities in exchange for millions of dollars in financial benefits, and of steering lucrative pandemic-era contracts for face masks and other supplies to Chinese companies that allegedly paid kickbacks.

Key Allegations

Prosecutors charged Sun with acting as an unregistered agent of China, visa fraud, money laundering and related offenses. Chris Hu faced charges including money laundering, bank fraud and tax evasion. The couple also were charged jointly with wire fraud, bribery and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Authorities say evidence presented at trial included emails, phone messages and spreadsheets showing how the defendants allegedly moved funds through shell companies, cash pickups and third‑party payments. Prosecutors contended those proceeds financed a lavish lifestyle that included a multimillion‑dollar Long Island home, a $1.9 million condominium in Hawaii, and luxury vehicles.

Government Narrative And Broader Context

Prosecutors framed the case as part of a larger Justice Department effort to expose individuals allegedly working covertly in the U.S. on behalf of the Chinese government, claiming Sun repeatedly provided information to Chinese handlers, obstructed contacts between state officials and representatives of Taiwan, and removed references to sensitive topics such as the Uighurs from official communications.

"Linda Sun betrayed the state of New York to enrich herself," Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Solomon said in closing arguments.

Defense Response

Sun's defense attorneys portrayed her as a dedicated public servant and a "proud American" who served as a liaison to the Asian American community. Defense counsel Kenneth Abell acknowledged that Sun cultivated relationships with Chinese consulate officials but noted her engagement with Taiwanese groups as well and argued that blocking a meeting with Taiwan's president was consistent with precedent—no New York governor had previously met a Taiwanese president.

Abell also challenged the prosecution's evidence, disputing claims that Sun forged Gov. Hochul's signature and questioning why Chinese firms would need to bribe state officials to win contracts during a period when states were rapidly purchasing supplies.

Outcome And Next Steps

The judge's declaration of a mistrial leaves the charges unresolved and allows prosecutors to decide whether to retry the case. If retried, the matter will return to court for a new jury to consider the allegations in full. Meanwhile, the high-profile proceedings underscore the Justice Department's focus on alleged influence operations tied to foreign governments.