Former Mayor Eileen Wang of Arcadia, California, resigned after agreeing to plead guilty to federal charges of acting as an illegal agent for China. According to multiple reports, Wang 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 U.S. News Center.
Key Takeaways
Former Mayor Eileen Wang 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 and her former fiancé to promote pro-China propaganda through a website called U.S. News Center.
- Former Mayor Eileen Wang pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent for China
- Wang worked with Chinese officials and her former fiancé to spread propaganda via the U.S. News Center website
- The Department of Justice stated that Wang's conduct occurred before she was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2023
- Federal prosecutors described the website as a propaganda arm for the Chinese Communist Party, where Wang posted pre-written articles denying human rights abuses in Xinjiang
- Wang faces up to 10 years in federal prison and appeared before a federal magistrate judge with bond set at $25,000
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 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 reported by Fox News, 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 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 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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