A Southern California mayor has agreed to plead guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government. The mayor of Arcadia, Eileen Wang, was charged in April with one count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign government. According to a report by news agency AP, “She was accused of doing the bidding of Chinese officials, such as sharing articles favorable to Beijing, without prior notification to the US government as required by law.”Eileen Wang was elected in November 2022 to a five-person city council. As per reports quoting Federal officials, she has agreed to plead guilty to the felony, which comes with a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. “Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy. This plea agreement is the latest success in our determination to defend the homeland against China’s efforts to corrupt our institutions,” said Bill Essayli, an assistant US attorney.
How Eileen Wang worked for Chinese government
Eileen Wang has been accused of doing the bidding of Chinese officials, such as sharing articles favorable to Beijing, without prior notification to the US government as required by the law in America.According to her plea agreement, Wang and a colleague, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, worked on behalf of government officials for the People’s Republic of China from the end of 2020 to 2022 to promote their interests by promoting pro-PRC propaganda in the US. Wang and Sun operated the news website US News Center, aimed at the Chinese American community, and were reportedly instructed by Chinese government officials to post pro-PRC content on it.As per AP report, in one instance in June 2021, a government official sent Wang a link to a letter to the editor published in the Los Angeles Times written by the consul general of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles. The piece reportedly refuted reports of the persecution, forced labor, and abuse of Uyghers in China’s Xinjiang province, stating, “There has never been genocide in Xinjiang or forced labor in the region’s cotton fields or any other sector.” Within minutes, Wang shared the link on her news site.Incidentally, Sun is already serving a four-year sentence after he pleaded guilty to the same charge in October 2025.
What Southern California manager said on charges against Eileen Wang
City manager Dominic Lazzaretto said in a news release that no city finances or staff were involved. “We want to be clear: this investigation concerns individual conduct, and the charges are for conduct that ceased after Ms Wang was sworn into office in December 2022. Following an internal review, we can confirm that no City finances, staff, or decision-making processes were involved.” According to Lazzaretto’s announcement, the city council will appoint a mayor and mayor pro term from the remaining council members at their next meeting.
What Eileen Wang’s lawyers said
Wang’s attorneys Jason Liang and Brian Sun said in a statement that she recognizes the seriousness of the charge and accepts responsibility for “past personal mistakes.” “She apologizes and is sorry for the mistakes she has made in her personal life,” Wang’s attorneys Jason Liang and Brian Sun said in a statement. “Her love and devotion for the Arcadia community have not changed and did not waver.”
