Former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang Resigns Amid Federal Foreign Agent Case
Former Mayor Eileen Wang and Assemblymember Mike Fong
Our City of Arcadia was shaken after former Mayor Eileen Wang resigned from both the mayor’s office and the Arcadia City Council following the unsealing of a federal criminal case involving allegations that she acted as an unregistered agent for the government of China.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Wang agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign government. Federal prosecutors allege that between 2020 and 2022, before taking office, Wang worked alongside her then-fiancé, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, to promote pro-Chinese Communist Party propaganda through a website known as U.S. News Center.
Court filings state that Wang and Sun allegedly operated under the direction of officials connected to the People’s Republic of China and published messaging favorable to Beijing without registering under federal foreign agent laws. Prosecutors said the website portrayed itself as an independent Chinese-American news outlet while allegedly distributing content approved or influenced by Chinese government officials.
Sun, who served as Wang’s campaign adviser and campaign manager during her Arcadia City Council run, previously pleaded guilty in a related federal case and was sentenced earlier this year to four years in federal prison.
For years, I publicly voiced concerns regarding Wang’s close political and personal association with Sun and the potential influence surrounding her campaign. Those concerns were often dismissed or criticized at the time. Thankfully, recent federal filings and plea agreements have now brought many of those questions into public focus.
The controversy has also reignited criticism of the Arcadia City Council itself. Critics and residents have accused members of the current council — with the exception of former Mayor Sharon Kwan — of ignoring or dismissing concerns that were raised for years regarding Eileen Wang’s associations and potential foreign influence concerns tied to her former fiancé and political adviser, Yaoning “Mike” Sun.
Kwan frequently spoke publicly about transparency, accountability, and what she described as troubling associations surrounding Wang and Sun. Supporters of Kwan argue she was politically isolated and censured by members of the council after attempting to raise questions about Wang’s alleged connections and associations involving pro-China influence efforts.
While federal prosecutors have not accused the Arcadia City Council itself of wrongdoing, many residents are now questioning why earlier warnings and public concerns were not taken more seriously before federal charges were ultimately filed against Wang and Sun.
Federal authorities emphasized that the conduct described in the case occurred prior to Wang officially taking office in late 2022, and Arcadia city officials stated there is currently no evidence that city resources or staff were involved.
The case has generated widespread discussion throughout Arcadia and across Southern California, raising broader concerns about foreign influence, transparency in local politics, and the importance of public accountability from elected officials.
Wang is expected to formally enter her guilty plea in federal court in the coming weeks. The charge carries a potential maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison.