Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang Resigns Following Federal Guilty Plea

Eileen Wang resigned as mayor of Arcadia on Monday, the same day federal prosecutors unsealed her guilty plea deal and she made her initial appearance in federal court. The 58-year-old is set to formally plead guilty to the federal charge in the coming weeks. The FBI was aware of Eileen Wang’s activities as early as 2017.

That was when agents interviewed her handler, John Chen, who later was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for acting as an illegal agent of the PRC and conspiracy to bribe a public official. John Chen met with China’s President Xi in 2021 and gave orders to Yaoning “Mike” Sun. Yaoning “Mike” Sun is a convicted Chinese secret agent who ran Eileen Wang’s political campaign.

Beijing told John Chen to help Eileen Wang build relationships with influential politicians. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla.

New York Post reported that the prosecution of Wang reflects China’s desire to further its interests by planting assets in local government. Federal prosecutors hope such loyalists may grow their political careers and rise to high office.

U.S. Essayli said. Cui Guanghai of China and John Miller of the United Kingdom were charged last year in Los Angeles and Milwaukee with stalking, smuggling and illegal arms export. Cui Guanghai and John Miller tried to silence a Chinese expat living in Southern California who spoke out against Xi Jinping.

They paid undercover FBI assets $36,500. In Wisconsin, the pair attempted to buy components of missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices with associated crypto ignition keys for the PRC. The two fled to Hungary to evade capture by the FBI.

They were apprehended in Serbia, forced to wear ankle monitors under house arrest, then cut off their electronic bracelets and fled to China. The whereabouts of Cui Guanghai and John Miller are currently unknown. The case “shows the length China goes to, to exert influence and control dissidents,” Essayli said.

Wang’s punishment is yet to be determined. U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee investigated ties between former Rep. Eric Swalwell and Christine Fang for two years. The committee closed its investigation of Eric Swalwell in 2022.

The FBI raided Lancaster City Hall last month and the homes of two politicians from Lancaster last month. The probe examined links between the two men and China-based electric car manufacturer BYD, which is running America’s first trial of electric buses in the city. The FBI continues to investigate China’s meddling in California politics and other spheres as Wang awaits her fate.