The former California mayor who stands accused of acting as a spy for the Chinese government is using her fiancé as a shield against the allegations.
Arcadia’s ex-mayor Eileen Wang pleaded guilty last month to illegally acting as an agent for the Chinese Communist Party and faces up to 10 years in prison. With her sentencing approaching, Wang’s lawyers blamed her fiancé, Mike Sun, for deceiving her.
Attorneys said that Wang only got into trouble because of “her trust and love for apparently the wrong person who ultimately led her astray.” They also allege her actions mostly took place prior to her election to the Arcadia City Council and before she became mayor.
Prosecutors have accused Wang and Sun of doing China’s bidding and spreading propaganda on behalf of Beijing. The conduct allegedly included posting communist party propaganda articles online while wang was on the Council. She publicly expressed beliefs that China and the US should have friendly relations and that Taiwan should join with China before she was elected to city government.
Her co-workers said they were unaware of her actions working on behalf of the Chinese government.
“She just votes, and I don’t even remember how she votes,” Arcadia City Councilwoman Sharon Kwan told The New York Times.
Another former co-worker, former Arcadia mayor April Verlato, said Sun was seen with Wang often.
“He took her to everything,” she told the Times.
After she won her place on the Council, she thanked Sun as her “leader.”
Sun would allegedly report to Chinese government officials, and in one report he described Wang as a “new political star” with connections to high-level politicians.
Wang tried to distance herself from Sun in September of last year, telling the Council that he was an “ex-boyfriend” and challenging anyone to prove they were together.
“Please prove it,” she said at the time. “I am very proud of myself… I always stand with our country.”
Wang apologized through her attorneys for mistakes she made “in her personal life” earlier this month.
“She apologizes and is sorry for the mistakes she has made in her personal life,” a statement read.
“Her love and devotion for the Arcadia community have not changed and did not waver.”