Former Assistant to New York Governor Charged with 'Activities on Behalf of the Chinese Government'

Federal prosecutors in the United States have charged a former assistant to New York Governor Kathy Hochul with 'activities on behalf of the Chinese government.' According to Reuters, prosecutors announced that Linda San was arrested on Tuesday, September 4, and is set to stand trial. Linda San's 41-year-old husband, Chris Ho, is also facing criminal charges. San is accused of obstructing meetings between Taiwanese government representatives and U.S. officials and facilitating a senior New York state official's trip to China. Federal prosecutors stated that Chinese government representatives assisted in transferring millions of dollars to Chris Ho, a business activist in China, in exchange for these services. Prosecutors have indicated that the couple used the funds to purchase real estate and a 2024 Ferrari Roma sports car, totaling approximately six million dollars. Lawyers for Linda San and Chris Ho, as well as the Chinese embassy in Washington, have not yet responded to this news. Linda San, who was hired by the New York governor's office in 2021, was fired about a year and a half later following the revelation of her misconduct. The U.S. Department of Justice has intensified legal action against individuals accused of covert collaboration with countries like China and Russia in recent years. The Washington Post reported that Chinese hackers have infiltrated U.S. internet service providers to spy on users. The U.S. National Security Advisor's trip to Beijing aims to manage 'tense relations' with China, and during a meeting between the U.S. National Security Advisor and the Chinese President, Sullivan stated that Biden is 'committed to managing relations' between the two countries. The FBI has warned that the U.S. is facing increasing threats from 'cybercrime' and 'terrorism.'