Trial opens for governors’ aide accused of taking payment to serve Chinese government

A former aide to New York Governors Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo is on trial facing charges she acted as an undisclosed agent to the Chinese government in exchange for millions of dollars in business transactions and benefits secured through Chinese officials. Sun is accused of political activities intended to influence the public on China’s behalf, and committing wire and visa fraud, money laundering and other financial crimes in procuring a bounty from the Chinese government. Prosecutors allege that Sun and her husband Chris Hu used the laundered proceeds of this scheme to fund a lavish lifestyle, purchasing a Long…