Mistrial declared in federal case involving ex-aide of 2 governors

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — JUDGE BRIAN COGAN of Brooklyn federal court declared a mistrial Monday afternoon in the espionage case of Linda Sun, a former high-ranking aide to two governors.

Sun, who worked for then-Gov. Cuomo and Gov. Hochul, was charged with secretly acting as an agent of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party. Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, are also charged with additional crimes, including accepting kickbacks in a PPE fraud scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the jury restarted deliberations Monday morning with an alternate juror, they sent a note to Judge Cogan stating, “Your Honor, after extensive deliberations and redeliberations the jury remains unable to reach a unanimous verdict.” Called back into the courtroom, the jury informed Judge Cogan they were deadlocked on all 19 counts, at which time he declared the mistrial.

U.S. Attorney Alexander Solomon told the judge that the government intends to retry the case “as soon as possible.” A status conference is scheduled for Jan. 26 on the case’s next steps.

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