Emails expose pattern of CCP engagement inside Hochul administration
Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration continued to engage with Chinese government officials months after firing alleged China mole Linda Sun, records obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation show.
Email records obtained by the DCNF show that Hochul’s office discussed welcoming a government delegation from Henan Province — a region that featured prominently during Sun’s criminal trial — just months after firing the former aide accused of acting as an undisclosed agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In one message, an aide to Hochul wrote that the governor was “happy to hear from” a Henan official seeking engagement.
The records, along with other revelations, suggest a noticeable pattern of engagement with Beijing by the Hochul administration, even as federal authorities warned that China actively targets state and local officials to advance its political aims.
Federal authorities arrested Sun and Hu in September 2024, alleging Sun used her influence in the state government to covertly advance the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) agenda, including arranging a 2018 delegation from Henan Province at the request of Chinese officials. Prosecutors accused her of fraudulently obtaining invitation letters purportedly issued by the executive chamber, some bearing then-Lt. Gov. Hochul’s forged signature, to facilitate those visits.
A federal judge on Dec. 22 declared a mistrial in Sun’s case after a Brooklyn jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict against her and her husband, Chris Hu.
Despite the hung jury, the proceedings surfaced damaging evidence for the Hochul administration. Among the most notable were text messages in which Sun bragged to a Chinese consular official that Hochul was “much more obedient” than then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
In another, she claimed, “The deputy governor listens to me more than the governor does.”
Sun was terminated from her job in Hochul’s office in March 2023, but it did not mark an end to the administration’s dealings with Chinese officials, emails obtained by the DCNF show. The governor’s office considered a potential delegation visit with representatives from the People’s Government of Henan Province in July 2023.
According to the records, Ma Pengchao, an official with Henan Province’s foreign affairs office, asked Hochul’s staff to issue an official invitation letter for a six-member delegation led by He Jinping, vice chairman of the standing committee of the Henan People’s Congress.
The Chinese government also sought meetings with Hochul, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado or other senior state leaders. The stated purpose of the visit was to “deepen the friendly relations between Henan Province and New York State” and to “strengthen pragmatic cooperation” in areas such as trade, finance, higher education, culture and tourism, according to the emails.
Then–Assistant Secretary for Executive Operations Greg Lorjuste replied that the governor was “happy to hear from you and appreciates that you have extended this invitation to her,” noting that they would later confirm whether she’d be able to participate.
Ma responded by noting that he had the “great privilege of meeting with Her Excellency Hochul back in 2018,” referencing the earlier delegation organized during Sun’s tenure.
“Please convey our tremendous appreciation to Governor Hochul for considering to meet with the Henan delegation this time,” the official wrote, inviting Hochul or other state leaders to visit Henan.
Follow-up emails from the governor’s office requested names of the delegates, passport details and additional logistical information.
Email records obtained by the DCNF show that Hochul’s office discussed welcoming a government delegation from Henan Province — a region that featured prominently during Sun’s criminal trial — just months after firing the former aide accused of acting as an undisclosed agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In one message, an aide to Hochul wrote that the governor was “happy to hear from” a Henan official seeking engagement.
The records, along with other revelations, suggest a noticeable pattern of engagement with Beijing by the Hochul administration, even as federal authorities warned that China actively targets state and local officials to advance its political aims.
Federal authorities arrested Sun and Hu in September 2024, alleging Sun used her influence in the state government to covertly advance the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) agenda, including arranging a 2018 delegation from Henan Province at the request of Chinese officials. Prosecutors accused her of fraudulently obtaining invitation letters purportedly issued by the executive chamber, some bearing then-Lt. Gov. Hochul’s forged signature, to facilitate those visits.
A federal judge on Dec. 22 declared a mistrial in Sun’s case after a Brooklyn jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict against her and her husband, Chris Hu.
Despite the hung jury, the proceedings surfaced damaging evidence for the Hochul administration. Among the most notable were text messages in which Sun bragged to a Chinese consular official that Hochul was “much more obedient” than then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
In another, she claimed, “The deputy governor listens to me more than the governor does.”
Sun was terminated from her job in Hochul’s office in March 2023, but it did not mark an end to the administration’s dealings with Chinese officials, emails obtained by the DCNF show. The governor’s office considered a potential delegation visit with representatives from the People’s Government of Henan Province in July 2023.
According to the records, Ma Pengchao, an official with Henan Province’s foreign affairs office, asked Hochul’s staff to issue an official invitation letter for a six-member delegation led by He Jinping, vice chairman of the standing committee of the Henan People’s Congress.
The Chinese government also sought meetings with Hochul, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado or other senior state leaders. The stated purpose of the visit was to “deepen the friendly relations between Henan Province and New York State” and to “strengthen pragmatic cooperation” in areas such as trade, finance, higher education, culture and tourism, according to the emails.
Then–Assistant Secretary for Executive Operations Greg Lorjuste replied that the governor was “happy to hear from you and appreciates that you have extended this invitation to her,” noting that they would later confirm whether she’d be able to participate.
Ma responded by noting that he had the “great privilege of meeting with Her Excellency Hochul back in 2018,” referencing the earlier delegation organized during Sun’s tenure.
“Please convey our tremendous appreciation to Governor Hochul for considering to meet with the Henan delegation this time,” the official wrote, inviting Hochul or other state leaders to visit Henan.
Follow-up emails from the governor’s office requested names of the delegates, passport details and additional logistical information.
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