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Arcadia mayor steps down following federal charges
Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, California, resigned Monday after agreeing to plead guilty to serving as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
Guilty plea and resignation
The 58-year-old mayor submitted her resignation to the Arcadia City Council the same day she accepted a felony charge. Wang could face up to 10 years in prison under the plea agreement.
In a statement released by her attorneys, Jason Liang and Brian Sun, Wang expressed remorse: "She apologizes and is sorry for the mistakes she has made in her personal life." The statement emphasized that her "love and devotion for the Arcadia community have not changed and did not waver."
Federal allegations of foreign influence
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli called the plea "the latest success in our determination to defend the homeland against China's efforts to corrupt our institutions." He added that individuals secretly advancing foreign governments' agendas "undermine our democracy."
The Department of Justice accused Wang of following instructions from Chinese officials, including sharing pro-Beijing articles without disclosing her ties to the U.S. government, as legally required.
Role in local media outlet
According to federal prosecutors, Wang collaborated with Yaoning "Mike" Sun, 65, to operate US News Center, a website targeting Chinese Americans in Arcadia. The DOJ cited an instance where a Chinese official sent Wang a pre-written article via WeChat denying allegations of forced labor and abuse in Xinjiang. Wang then published the piece on the website and acknowledged the official, prosecutors said.
City response and investigation
Arcadia City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto addressed the allegations on the city's website, calling the attempt by a foreign government to influence a local official "deeply troubling." He stressed that the investigation focused on Wang's personal conduct and that the charges relate to actions taken before she assumed office in December 2022.
An internal review confirmed that no city funds, staff, or decision-making processes were compromised, Lazzaretto added.
Background on Wang's political role
Wang was elected to Arcadia's five-member City Council in November 2022. The council operates on a rotating mayoral system, with each member serving as mayor for a designated period.
