The former high state official who allegedly served as a Chinese agent as soon as bragged that Kathy Hochul was “rather more obedient” than then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Linda Sun had satisfied Hochul — who served as Cuomo’s lieutenant governor on the time — to movie a Lunar New Year video touting China’s New York consulate when she made the stunning remark, in keeping with proof offered on the ex-Albany aide’s corruption trial.
“She is rather more obedient than the governor,” the accused Beijing mole wrote to China consulate official Lihua Li in a Jan. 25, 2021 message proven to jurors in Brooklyn federal courtroom.
“The deputy governor listens to me greater than the governor does,” Sun wrote in one other textual content minutes later — punctuated with a sheepish grin emoji — despatched to Huang Ping, who headed the consulate workplace on the time.
The messages, publicly launched Thursday after they have been offered to the jury earlier this week, present Sun taking credit score for convincing Hochul to movie the video for the Chinese consulate during which she wished viewers “xin nian kuai le,” or Happy New Year.
The Chinese officers had requested for Cuomo to movie the video, however Sun informed them that she may probably get Hochul to take part as an alternative, the messages present.
“Let me ask, however probably the LG can in all probability do it,” Sun replied to Li, referring to Hochul, in one of many messages proven in courtroom.
“That can be nice as properly. Thanks,” Li responded.
In the two-minute video, Hochul shouts out Ping by identify.
Prosecutors have accused Ping of getting his non-public chef provide Sun’s household with luxurious salted geese throughout the identical time the place the state official — who served underneath each Cuomo and now-Gov. Hochul — is accused of performing as an unlawful unregistered international agent for China.
Sun can also be accused of doing a slew of favors for Chinese officers in alternate for thousands and thousands of {dollars} in enterprise funneled to her husband Chris Hu’s seafood export firm, and goodies just like the duck and free live performance tickets.
The spoils of the alleged corruption scheme allowed Sun and Hu to trip round in a Ferrari Roma and afford a $4 million Long Island mansion and a $2 million second dwelling in Hawaii, prosecutors allege.
Sun, who was fired from the state authorities in 2023 after allegations of misconduct emerged, has pleaded not responsible.
