Official accused of spying for China said Hochul was “more obedient” than Cuomo

A former high New York state official accused of spying for China as soon as famous that New York Governor Kathy Hochul was “way more obedient” than former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Linda Solar made the remark after convincing Hochul, then Cuomo’s lieutenant governor, to movie a New Yr’s video touting the Chinese language consulate in New York, the New York Submit reported, citing proof offered throughout Solar’s corruption trial.

“She is way more obedient than the governor,” Solar wrote to Chinese language consular official Lihua Li in a Jan. 25, 2021, message to jurors in federal courtroom in Brooklyn.

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Linda Solar was accused of aiding the Chinese language authorities. (AP Picture/Corey Sipkin)

A couple of minutes later, Solar texted Huang Ping, who headed the consulate on the time.

“The deputy governor listens to me greater than the governor,” she allegedly wrote, prosecutors mentioned.

Chinese language officers had requested Cuomo to movie the video, however Solar advised them she might in all probability persuade Hochul to take part, prosecutors mentioned.

“Let me ask, however in all probability the LG can do it,” Solar replied to Li, referring to Hochul.

“That might be nice too. Thanks,” Li replied.

Within the two-minute video, Hochul needs everybody a Glad New Yr and talks concerning the “privilege” of working with the Chinese language American neighborhood and the Chinese language consular workplace. Fox Information Digital has contacted Hochul’s workplace.

Solar, who additionally served underneath Hochul, is charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Overseas Brokers Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling and cash laundering conspiracy.

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks at a information convention in Manhattan in New York Metropolis, February 20, 2025. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

Prosecutors from the Brooklyn District Legal professional’s Workplace imagine Solar acted on behalf of the Chinese language authorities on numerous events, together with by in search of a high-level state go to to China and stopping representatives of the Taiwanese authorities from assembly with U.S. officers.

In 2023, Solar was fired from her place after “proof of misconduct” was found. She is accused of granting favors to Chinese language officers in alternate for thousands and thousands of {dollars} in enterprise funneled to her husband Chris Hu, who did enterprise in China.

Hu and Solar are accused of utilizing the cash to purchase actual property on Lengthy Island and Honolulu price greater than $6 million, along with a 2024 Ferrari Roma sports activities automobile.

In a single case, Solar claimed he was capable of cease Cuomo from reporting the plight of the Uighurs, the predominantly Muslim ethnic group that human rights activists say is being focused by the Chinese language authorities by way of mass incarceration and compelled labor.

Within the Jan. 25, 2021, dialog with Ping, Solar wrote that she had a “feud” with Cuomo’s speechwriter, who had “insisted” on mentioning the Uyghurs, based on the Submit report.

“This individual has by no means been to China, proper? He is aware of little or no about China,” Ping replied.

Linda Solar, a former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, as soon as bragged that Hochul was “way more obedient” than Andrew Cuomo. (Getty Photographs)

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“I’ve by no means been there,” Solar mentioned. ‘I’ll collapse.

“I’ll provide you with an answer tomorrow, however I definitely will not let the governor begin speaking about it.”

Solar’s legal professionals argued that her relationship with Chinese language officers was not improper and authorized.

“Linda Solar did what she was employed to do. She dedicated no crime by doing her job,” lawyer Jarrod Schaeffer advised the jury at first of the trial, the Submit reported.