Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, has resigned after being charged by the US Department of Justice with acting as an illegal agent of China.
Wang, 58, agreed to plead guilty to a felony count, according to US authorities. She could face up to 10 years in prison. The Arcadia City Council confirmed that she stepped down from her position on Monday.
In a statement released through her lawyers, Jason Liang and Brian Sun, Wang apologised for what they described as “mistakes she has made in her personal life,” adding that her commitment to the Arcadia community “did not waver.”
Allegations of Acting on Beijing’s Instructions
Federal prosecutors allege that Wang followed directions from Chinese officials and shared favourable articles about Beijing without registering with the US government, as required under federal law.
First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said the plea agreement demonstrates efforts to counter foreign interference.
“Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy,” he said.
According to court documents, Wang allegedly worked alongside Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 65, to operate a website known as US News Center, which presented itself as a news platform serving Chinese Americans in Arcadia.
The Department of Justice claims that a Chinese government official sent Wang pre-written articles through the WeChat messaging app, including one denying allegations of forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region. Prosecutors say Wang subsequently published the material and communicated with the official.
City Distances Itself From Allegations
Arcadia’s City Manager, Dominic Lazzaretto, described the allegations as “deeply troubling” but stressed that the case concerns individual conduct.
He added that an internal review confirmed no city finances, staff, or official decision-making processes were involved. Authorities also noted that the alleged activities ceased after Wang was sworn into office in December 2022.
Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022. The five-member council rotates the role of mayor among its members.
The case marks the latest in a series of US prosecutions targeting alleged foreign influence operations within American political and civic institutions.