Former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang admitted guilt to acting as an agent for China, following charges filed last month. The 56-year-old agreed to these accusations, which alleged she promoted Chinese propaganda in the U.S. from 2020 to 2022.
Wang was elected to the City Council in November 2022. She rose to the mayoral role through a rotating system among council members. She resigned as mayor shortly after her plea agreement was revealed. Both Arcadia officials and her attorneys noted that her actions occurred before she held office.
On a $25,000 bond, Wang appeared in federal court in Los Angeles to enter her plea. She faces a potential 10-year prison sentence at her October 6 sentencing. During the hearing, she confirmed her guilt in simple responses.
“Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?” asked U.S. District Judge Wesley Hsu. “Yes,” Wang replied.
A previous order barred Wang from communicating with the Chinese government, including consular officials in the U.S.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated this plea deal reflects the commitment to protect democracy from foreign influence. Wang cooperated with Yaoning “Mike” Sun, her ex-fiance, to manage a website named U.S. News Center. The site was considered a news source for Chinese Americans and followed directives from Chinese officials. They posted requested articles, shared viewer statistics, and maintained direct communication with these officials.
Sun also pled guilty to related charges and received a four-year prison sentence earlier this year.
Wang’s plea agreement revealed details such as a June 10, 2021, message from a government official regarding Xinjiang. The official directed Wang to promote an article countering claims of forced labor in the region. Wang promptly added the article to her website.
Prosecutors highlighted how Wang edited content at officials’ requests and disclosed reach statistics. An August 2021 message from Wang to an official thanked them for noting a post viewed over 15,000 times.
Court documents confirmed Wang never disclosed China’s involvement in her activities.
Discussion after the plea deal’s exposure stirred anger among Arcadia residents. City meetings featured cries for accountability, with demands for apologies to the community. Former Mayor Tom Beck criticized the lack of immediate action post-FBI raid.
“Man up and apologize to the residents of Arcadia for letting this happen,” Beck exclaimed.
Residents criticized City Council members, expressing concerns about their judgment and trust.
City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto clarified that council members had no authority to remove Wang without a prior conviction. The ongoing investigation details were not shared with them.
Neither council members nor incumbent mayor Paul Cheng directly addressed Wang’s resignation delay. Instead, Cheng emphasized the city’s resolve against potential racism and division threats.
“We will not surrender to fear,” Cheng declared. “We will never allow the well in our town to be poisoned by outsiders.”