The former mayor of Arcadia, Eileen Wang, entered a guilty plea on Friday to charges of operating as an unlawful agent for China. Court documents reveal Wang was instructed by the Chinese government to spread propaganda in the U.S. from 2020 to 2022.
Wang, 56, was elected to the City Council in November 2022 and later became mayor, a role shared among council members. She resigned shortly after her plea agreement was disclosed. Authorities and Wang’s legal representatives state her unlawful activities took place before her term began.
She appeared in a federal court in Los Angeles and pleaded guilty, facing a potential sentence of up to 10 years on October 6. During the proceedings, U.S. District Judge Wesley Hsu advised Wang that admitting guilt might bar her from public office in the future. When questioned about her plea, Wang confirmed her guilt.
Previously, a judge mandated Wang to avoid contact with the Chinese government and its consular officials in the U.S. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli emphasized the importance of defending the nation’s institutions from foreign influence in light of the plea deal.
The charges against Wang include managing a site called U.S. News Center with Yaoning “Mike” Sun, her former fiancé, from late 2020. Their site posed as a news outlet for Chinese Americans and followed directives from Chinese officials.
Sun pleaded guilty to similar charges and received a four-year prison sentence. The plea agreement lists Wang’s receipt of directives concerning articles to post, including one about China’s stance on the Xinjiang issue. The posts were in response to calls for a boycott of Xinjiang cotton due to allegations of forced labor against China.
Upon receiving a directive, Wang quickly shared the content and reported the article’s reach to the Chinese official. Residents reacted strongly when details of Wang’s plea surfaced. At a May 19 City Council meeting, community members expressed anger over city leaders permitting Wang to remain in office without addressing the criminal allegations earlier.
“Man up and apologize to the residents of Arcadia for letting this happen,”
stated Tom Beck, a former Arcadia mayor.
The city council faced backlash for allegedly shielding Wang rather than addressing the charges as Councilmember Sharon Kwan suggested. Critics questioned the council’s discernment.
City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto clarified the council’s inability to remove Wang without a conviction, noting their unawareness of the investigation details. The council members stressed unity amid city tensions and potential racial hostility.
Current Mayor Paul Cheng said, We will not surrender to fear,
advocating for community solidarity.