Uncovered family links of a former high-ranking Hochul aide to the Chinese Communist Party sparking concerns
Off the Record: It's time to spill the beans on some shady shenanigans happening in New York politics. Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., dishes on Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoing a bill that could potentially pave the way for China to nab land near military bases. And hey, let's not forget about the juicy scandal involving a top aide in New York Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul's office.
According to our friends at Digital, this aide, Elaine Fan, is the daughter of a former Chinese journalist who had some pretty fishy connections with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Specifically, he served as deputy director of the Education Department of the News Bureau of the Central Propaganda Department, and held multiple leadership roles at state-run media outlets.
Elaine herself has been serving as Chief of Staff for Democrat Scott Stringer's mayoral campaign, and has been involved in New York politics for over a decade, including a stint as Hochul's director of Asian affairs. The latest campaign finance filing shows that she has raked in over $120,000 from the Stringer campaign since last August.
In 2021, Elaine was recognized by the City University of Hong Kong's Centre for Communication Research for her role in the Hochul administration. The press release boasted about her being one of the very few Asian-American leaders holding a senior position in the state's government. Professor Jonathan Zhu, a former supervisor, said Elaine's father, Fan Dongsheng, was indeed her dad.
Back in the day, China Press, where Elaine worked as a "Chief Reporter" for almost a decade, was heavily influenced by the Chinese government, with sources telling the Jamestown Foundation that the Chinese Consulate in New York was their boss. China Press wasn't just any ordinary news outlet; it was designated as "state-backed propaganda" and a "foreign mission" by the State Department during President Trump's first term.
Know what else is whacky? Hochul's ties to Elaine aren't the first time her office has raised eyebrows over CCP influence. Her former deputy chief of staff, Linda Sun, was indicted on charges of visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy, among other things. The indictment revealed some pretty damning communications between Sun and Chinese Consul General Huang Ping, who left his role as the consul general of the New York City Chinese consulate weeks after the indictment against Sun was announced.
U.S. intelligence agencies consider China "the most active and persistent cyber threat" and note that China’s Communist Party employs covert agents to monitor and influence events outside its borders. It's important to stay aware and diligent when it comes to potential Chinese espionage efforts, whether in political, academic, or technological sectors. Keep your eyes peeled, folks!
- In light of the recent scandal involving Elaine Fan, the daughter of a former Chinese journalist with suspect ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and her role as Chief of Staff for a New York mayoral campaign, one might question the level of CCP influence in general-news, politics, and crime-and-justice realms in New York.
- Given the past indictment of Linda Sun, former deputy chief of staff for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, on charges related to visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy - all of which allegedly involved communications with Chinese Consul General Huang Ping - it is essential to maintain vigilance and consider potential Chinese espionage efforts in the political arena.
