Eileen Wang Resigns After Federal Plea Deal in Arcadia Case
Arcadia mayor Eileen Wang resigned Monday after reaching a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in a case alleging she acted as an illegal foreign agent of China. She appeared in federal court in downtown Los Angeles during a brief hearing, where a judge told her lawyers to set a date for her guilty plea.
The plea agreement carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A magistrate judge also ordered a $25,000 bond and required Wang to surrender all passports and travel documents.
Los Angeles Court Hearing
Wang entered the agreement to resolve charges that she acted under the control of the People’s Republic of China to promote propaganda in the U.S. between 2020 and 2022. Prosecutors said she should refrain from any communication with the Chinese government, including consular officials in the U.S.
Bill Essayli said, “Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy.” He added, “This plea agreement is the latest success in our determination to defend the homeland against China’s efforts to corrupt our institutions.”
U.S. News Center Role
According to the plea agreement, Wang worked with Yaoning “Mike” Sun from late 2020 through at least 2022 to run a website called U.S. News Center. The agreement says they executed directives from Chinese government officials by posting requested articles and reporting back with screenshots showing how many people viewed the stories.
On June 10, 2021, Wang received a message from a government official about “China’s Stance on the Xinjiang Issue.” The message included a link to a letter to the editor at the Los Angeles Times from the consul general of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles.
Arcadia City Council
Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022. Arcadia officials said the conduct described by federal authorities occurred before that election, and Wang’s name was wiped from the city’s list of council members after the charges were announced.
Dominic Lazzaretto said, “We understand this news raises serious concerns, and we want to be direct with our community about what we know and where we stand.” He also said, “The allegations at the center of this case, that a foreign government sought to exert influence over a local elected official, are deeply troubling.”
The bond conditions and plea process put the case on a tighter legal track for Wang, who still must return to court to formally enter the guilty plea. For Arcadia, the immediate change is already on the record: its mayor stepped down as the federal case moved into open court.
