The mayor of Arcadia, California, has stepped down from her position after being charged with acting as an illegal foreign agent for China. Eileen Wang, 58, agreed to plead guilty to the felony charge, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday. She could face up to 10 years in federal prison.
Background of the Case
Wang's attorneys, Jason Liang and Brian Sun, issued a statement expressing her remorse. "She apologizes and is sorry for the mistakes she has made in her personal life," they said, as reported by BBC News. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized the seriousness of the offense, stating, "Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy." He added that the plea agreement represents a success in defending the homeland against China's efforts to corrupt U.S. institutions.
Specific Allegations
According to the Justice Department, Wang followed directions from Chinese officials, including sharing favorable articles about Beijing without notifying the U.S. government as required by law. The department alleges that Wang and Yaoning "Mike" Sun, 65, of Chino Hills, California, operated a pro-China propaganda website called U.S. News Center, which they presented as a news source for the Chinese-American community.
In one instance, in June 2021, a Chinese official contacted Wang via encrypted WeChat with pre-written news stories, including an essay published in the Los Angeles Times that denied genocide in Xinjiang and forced labor in product manufacturing. Wang allegedly posted the story to the U.S. News Center website within minutes and provided a link to the Chinese official. Other participants in the chat did the same, prompting the official to reply, "Sio fast, thank you everyone," according to The Guardian.
In November 2021, Wang allegedly communicated with John Chen, a Chinese intelligence member with direct ties to President Xi Jinping, asking him to post a news story from her website, stating, "This is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to send." Chen pleaded guilty in November 2024 to acting as an illegal agent of China and conspiracy to bribe a public official, receiving a 20-month federal prison sentence. Sun was arrested in December 2024 and pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent, receiving a four-year sentence in February.
Resignation and City Response
Wang resigned as mayor—a position she held since November 2022—hours after the plea deal was unsealed, The Guardian reported. Arcadia officials told the Los Angeles Times that the alleged conduct occurred before she was elected. City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto posted a message on the city's website stating, "The allegations at the centre of this case, that a foreign government sought to exert influence over a local elected official, are deeply troubling." He added, "We take them seriously." Lazzaretto clarified that the investigation concerns individual conduct and that charges are for actions that ceased after Wang was sworn into office in December 2022. An internal review confirmed that no city finances, staff, or decision-making processes were involved. A new mayor and acting mayor will be selected at the next Arcadia city council meeting.
