Hold onto your hats, folks -- federal prosecutors have dropped a bombshell, accusing a former top New York official of playing double agent for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) while rubbing elbows with Govs. Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo, as Breitbart reports.

Linda Sun, once a trusted aide in New York’s highest offices, stands accused of secretly working for Beijing, raking in millions in kickbacks, and living a life of luxury with her husband, Chris Hu, all while allegedly influencing state policy to favor foreign interests.

Sun’s journey in New York politics began in 2012 under Cuomo’s administration, where she climbed the ranks from global New York trade manager to Asian outreach director and Queens regional representative.

Uncovering a Lavish Lifestyle Funded by Kickbacks

By 2018, she’d snagged the title of “chief diversity officer,” a role that sounds noble but now raises eyebrows given the allegations of her covert dealings with CCP insiders.

Fast forward to September 2021, Sun became deputy chief of staff under Hochul, a position she held for just 15 months before being fired over evidence of misconduct that remains undisclosed.

After her dismissal, she shuffled to the New York Department of Labor as deputy commissioner for strategic business development, only to depart in March 2023 when more red flags surfaced, prompting a referral to law enforcement.

Allegations of Secret Deals with Beijing

“The matter was forwarded to law enforcement at the time,” said a person familiar with Sun’s exit from the Department of Labor, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, though they refused to elaborate on the misconduct.

Prosecutors paint a damning picture, claiming Sun blocked Taiwanese officials from meeting New York brass, tweaked state messaging to align with CCP interests, and even slipped a Chinese diplomat into a confidential state call.

Meanwhile, Sun and Hu allegedly funneled a staggering $15.8 million into the U.S. through Hu’s lobster export business and a Queens wine shop, using family members to move undeclared cash straight from China.

Millions in Assets Raise Serious Questions

The couple’s lifestyle screams excess, with a $3.6 million Long Island mansion, a $1.9 million Hawaii condo, and a shiny 2024 Ferrari Roma worth over $243,000 -- all supposedly bought with illicit funds.

During the coronavirus crisis, prosecutors say they pocketed $2.3 million in kickbacks from personal protective equipment imports, a move that feels particularly galling when so many were struggling.

Sun’s cozy ties to Beijing didn’t stop at money -- she reportedly dined on Nanjing-style salted duck prepared by a Chinese consulate chef, celebrated the CCP’s 70th anniversary in Beijing, and enjoyed undisclosed tickets to Chinese orchestra and ballet shows.

Defense Claims No Foreign Agent Status

Now facing charges like violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering, Sun has pleaded not guilty, with her attorneys pushing back hard against the narrative.

“Her conduct aligned with [U.S.] national objective [that] cannot credibly be characterized as advancing ‘predominantly a foreign interest,’” Sun’s legal team argued in pretrial motions, suggesting she’s merely a misunderstood patriot.

That defense might raise a skeptical eyebrow or two, especially when the evidence suggests a pattern of influence peddling that could undermine state sovereignty -- hardly the kind of “national objective” for which most Americans would cheer.