Chinese Agent Mayor Pleads in Espionage Case
Former California mayor Eileen Wang pleaded guilty to operating as an illegal agent of China by running a propaganda website that promoted Beijing's interests while concealing her ties to the Chinese government.
Eileen Wang, who served as mayor of Arcadia in Los Angeles County, entered her guilty plea in federal court on Friday after striking a deal with the Department of Justice, as New York Post reports. The 58-year-old admitted to acting as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China.
According to court documents, Wang collaborated with her then-fiancé Yaoning “Mike” Sun to operate a website called U.S. News Center between 2020 and 2022. The site presented itself as a legitimate news source for Chinese Americans, but was in reality a propaganda outlet following directives from Beijing.
Wang and Sun carried out specific orders from the Chinese government, publishing content designed to promote China’s image and interests. The pair regularly reported back to their handlers with screenshots demonstrating how many readers had viewed their propaganda materials, according to the plea agreement.
Sun was arrested and charged with operating as a covert Chinese agent in 2024. He subsequently received a four-year prison sentence.
Wang won election to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022, after the propaganda operation had concluded. She later rose to the position of mayor before federal charges against her were unsealed earlier this month. She resigned from the city council immediately after the charges became public.
Bill Essayli, First Assistant United States Attorney, emphasized the gravity of the case in announcing the plea agreement. He stated that individuals who secretly advance foreign government agendas undermine American democracy, calling the guilty plea the latest success in defending the homeland against Chinese efforts to corrupt American institutions.
Roman Rozhavsky, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, warned that anyone acting on behalf of foreign governments to influence American democracy would face identification, investigation, and prosecution.
The Arcadia City Council appointed council member Paul P. Cheng to complete Wang’s mayoral term through the next election cycle in November 2026.
In a statement, the city acknowledged the disturbing nature of the allegations, noting that a foreign government had sought to exert influence over a local elected official. The city clarified that the criminal conduct ended before Wang took office in December 2022.
Wang faces sentencing on October 6. She could receive up to 10 years in federal prison under the statutory maximum for her crimes.
With information from New York Post
