Eileen Wang resigns: Southern California mayor pleads guilty in China agent scandal

Eileen Wang, a Southern California mayor, has resigned from his post in the wake of a political scandal in which she pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, as announced by the US Department of Justice.

According to officials, Wang was charged in April with one count of acting in the US as an illegal agent of a foreign government. The mayor of Arcadia was also accused of secretly working for the Chinese government, such as sharing the articles favourable to Beijing by keeping the US government out of loop, which is against the law.

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As a result of pleading guilty on the count of felony, Wang, 58, could face a sentence of 10 years in prison.

“Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy. This plea agreement is the latest success in our determination to defend the homeland against China’s efforts to corrupt our institutions,” said Bill Essayli, an assistant US attorney.

As per Ms Wang plea agreement, Wang and Yaoning “Mike” of Chino Hills collaborated with the People’s Republic of China to promote the country’s interest by running a website named US News Center. Through this website they propagated the pro-PRC propaganda, becoming a news source for the local Chinese American community.

Sun is serving a four-year sentence after he pleaded guilty to the same charge last October.

Wang’s attorneys Jason Liang and Brian Sun said in a statement that she admitted the seriousness of the charge and accepts responsibility for “past personal mistakes.”

“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,” Wang’s attorneys Jason Liang and Brian Sun said.

In response to the resignation of Wang, Dominic Lazzaretto, Arcadia city manager, posted a message on a website, refusing the involvement of city finances and staff in this scandal.

“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,”

According to Lazzaretto’s announcement, the city council will appoint a mayor and mayor pro term from the remaining council members at their next meeting.

Wang was elected in November 2022 to a five-person city council, from which the mayor is selected on a rotating basis.