Mayor of Arcadia Pleads Guilty to Acting as Foreign Agent
LOS ANGELES — The mayor of Arcadia, a suburb of Los Angeles, has pleaded guilty to illegally representing the interests of China and plans to resign from her position, officials announced on Monday.
Details of the Charges Against Eileen Wang
Eileen Wang, who became mayor of the city with a population of 56,000 in 2022, appeared in federal court on Monday and was released on $25,000 bail. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles revealed that she faces charges of acting as an illegal agent for a foreign government. Wang has agreed to enter a guilty plea at a later date.
Admittance of Covert Activities
According to Roman Rosavsky, the deputy director of the FBI’s counterintelligence and espionage division, Wang admitted to covertly serving the interests of the Chinese government. Prosecutors assert that she, alongside accomplice Sun Yaoning, disseminated “pro-China propaganda” within the U.S. via a website named “US News Center.” This site aimed to promote the agenda of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Previous Sentencing of Accomplices
Sun Yaoning pled guilty to a similar offense in October, sentencing him to four years in prison. Wang’s plea agreement indicates that she failed to notify the U.S. Attorney General of her activities, a requirement for individuals acting as foreign agents.
Instructions Received from Chinese Officials
As detailed in the plea agreement, Wang and Sun acted under directives from Chinese government officials, at times seeking prior approval for the content they published. For instance, U.S. prosecutors noted that a senior Chinese official, John Chen, requested Wang to post specific statements on the site in November 2021, framing them as directives from the Foreign Ministry.
Legal Representation and Personal Context
Wang’s attorneys, Brian A. Sun and Jason Liang, indicated that the actions connected to her personal life and the website she managed, emphasizing that the city of Arcadia was not implicated in these matters. They mentioned that Wang believed she was collaborating with her fiancé on the media platform, underscoring her personal entanglements.
Implications for Wang and the City of Arcadia
The charge against Wang carries a potential maximum penalty of ten years in prison, although her plea agreement suggests that the government will recommend a reduction in the sentencing guidelines. While the specifics of her expected sentencing range remain undisclosed, it will ultimately fall to a judge to determine her fate.
Future of Arcadia’s Leadership
In light of these events, Wang has resigned from her role as mayor, as announced on the city’s official website. The Arcadia City Council is set to elect a new mayor in its upcoming meeting. Located approximately 21 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, Arcadia is part of Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley, recognized for its significant Asian American community, which constitutes about 59% of the city’s population, according to U.S. Census data.
