Former California mayor charged with acting as agent of China

ARCADIA, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang has resigned after federal prosecutors charged her with acting as an illegal agent for the People's Republic of China.

Investigators accuse the now former mayor of promoting propaganda on behalf of the Chinese government.

"I will support and defend the constitution of the United States," said former Arcadia Mayor Wang.

Video shows Wang, 58, being sworn in as Mayor of Arcadia earlier this year.

"It is truly and honor and humbling privilege to stand before you," Wang expressed.

But months after her swearing-in, Wang stepped down from her role amid growing controversy tied to a federal investigation.

The FBI has accused Wang of spreading propaganda on behalf of the Chinese government, and federal prosecutors say she has agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign government.

"The charges she's facing are very serious. She could be sent to prison for up to 10 years," said Royal Oaks, a legal analyst.

Oakes says the charges stem from allegations Wang was not fully transparent with federal authorities.

"The key here is her failure to disclose her connection with the government of China. The allegation is that she was really acting at their direction. She was their agent, and whether she's stealing nuclear secrets or just posting editorials that were pro-China, the fact is, without registering as an agent, she's breaking federal law."

Royal Oakes, legal analyst

Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council in 2022, where there is a five-person council, with the role of mayor rotating among the members.

The allegations against Wang involve conduct before she was elected.

The City of Arcadia released a statement saying in part:

"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…The remainder of the City Council is not under investigation and city operations continue without interruption."

The charges against Wang come after her fiancée, 65-year-old Yaoning "Mike" Sun of Chino Hills, was arrested in 2024 and was sentenced to four years in prison for acting as an illegal agent of China.

According to investigators, the two worked together from 2020 to 2022 and Wang admitted they operated a website together that provided news to the Chinese American community at the direction and control of the People's Republic of China.

Wang's lawyer released a statement on her behalf, saying in part:

"Events in Ms. Wang's personal life, including her trust and love for apparently the wrong person who ultimately led her astray, require her to step away from public service. She apologizes and is sorry for the mistakes she has made in her personal life. Her love and devotion for the Arcadia community have not changed and did not waver."

The City of Arcadia says it will select its next Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem from their remaining four councilmembers at their next council meeting is scheduled for May 19.