CA Mayor Secretly Worked to Spread Chinese Propaganda
Wang faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Her sentence will be determined by a federal judge after she formally enters her guilty plea.
Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, California, has been charged with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China and has agreed to plead guilty, federal prosecutors said.
The Justice Department said Wang admitted that she acted “at the direction and control” of Chinese government officials from at least 2020 to 2022, before she took office on the Arcadia City Council. Prosecutors said she worked to spread pro-Beijing messaging inside the United States without notifying the US attorney general, as required by law.
Wang faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Her sentence will be determined by a federal judge after she formally enters her guilty plea.
According to court documents, Wang worked with Yaoning “Mike” Sun, a convicted Chinese agent currently serving a four-year federal prison sentence, to operate a website that presented itself as a local Chinese American news outlet. Prosecutors said the site functioned as a propaganda platform for the Chinese Communist Party and published content supplied by Chinese officials.
In one exchange cited by prosecutors, a Chinese government official allegedly sent Wang a prewritten article denying allegations of forced labor and genocide in Xinjiang. Wang posted it online minutes later and sent the official the link. The official replied, “So fast, thank you everyone.”
In another case, after editing content at Beijing’s request and reporting that it had received more than 15,000 views, Wang wrote, “Thank you leader,” according to prosecutors.
Authorities also said Wang communicated with convicted Chinese operative John Chen, who has been tied to China’s intelligence apparatus. Prosecutors said Wang asked him to help distribute messaging and wrote, “This is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to send.”
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said elected officials in the United States must act only for the people they represent. First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said the case showed the government’s commitment to countering China’s efforts to influence American institutions.
The FBI said Wang’s admission should serve as a warning to others acting on behalf of foreign governments.
Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022 and later became mayor through the council’s rotating system. The conduct described by prosecutors took place before she assumed office.
Arcadia officials said Wang has resigned from the City Council, vacating the mayor’s office. City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said the allegations are troubling, but an internal review found no city finances, staff or decision-making processes were involved. No other council members are under investigation, and city operations are continuing.