Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, California, resigned after agreeing to plead guilty to federal charges of acting as an illegal agent for China. She admitted working with Chinese government officials and her former fiancé Yaoning 'Mike' Sun from at least 2020 through 2022 to promote pro-China propaganda through a website called US News Center.
Key Takeaways
Eileen Wang, former mayor of Arcadia, California, resigned after agreeing to plead guilty to federal charges of acting as an illegal agent for China. She admitted working with Chinese officials to promote pro-China propaganda through a website called US News Center.
- Eileen Wang pleaded guilty to federal charges of acting as an illegal agent for China
- Wang worked with Chinese officials and her former fiancé Yaoning 'Mike' Sun from 2020 through 2022
- The plea agreement could result in up to 10 years in federal prison
- Federal prosecutors emphasized that her actions undermined democracy by covertly doing the bidding of foreign governments
The Department of Justice announced that Wang's conduct occurred before she was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2023. Prosecutors described the website as a propaganda arm for the Chinese Communist Party, where Wang posted pre-written articles from Chinese officials denying allegations of forced labor and genocide in Xinjiang.
Federal prosecutors say former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang worked 'at the direction and control' of Chinese officials, pushing pro-Beijing messaging through a website disguised as a local news outlet. In one exchange, a Chinese official sent Wang pre-written content denying human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Minutes later, she posted it and sent back the link. The official replied, 'So fast, thank you everyone.' Wang responded, 'Thank you leader.'
The city of Arcadia issued a statement confirming that no city resources or decision-making processes were affected by Wang's actions. The plea agreement could result in up to 10 years in federal prison for Wang, who appeared before a federal magistrate judge on Monday with bond set at $25,000.
According to multiple reports, Wang will formally plead guilty in the coming weeks. Federal prosecutors emphasized that her actions undermined democracy by covertly doing the bidding of foreign governments. The case has raised concerns about elected officials spreading propaganda on behalf of foreign governments.
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