Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang resigned Monday after agreeing to plead guilty to federal charges of acting as a secret Chinese foreign agent. Federal prosecutors alleged the California official secretly executed directives from the Chinese government to spread propaganda while serving in a powerful public office. Wang faces up to ten years in federal prison for her secret involvement in a website that published pre-written foreign essays.
Investigators discovered Wang operated a website called “U.S. News Center” which appeared to be a standard news source for many residents. Unsealed documents showed the mayor published articles claiming there is no genocide in Xinjiang to influence the entire local Chinese American community. Wang reportedly messaged foreign handlers with the phrase “thank you, leader” after sending screenshots of engagement on the various propaganda news articles.
Councilwoman Sharon Kwan previously raised suspicions about Wang’s activities during chaotic city meetings, but reportedly faced significant internal resistance from other colleagues. The FBI warned that hostile actors attempting to undermine American democracy through covert foreign influence will be identified and brought to justice.
Residents clash over foreign influence in local government
A Reddit user wrote that the community now faces “lots of shady political business” and questionable connections to foreign governments. A self-described California resident argued that the Department of Justice should “unveil foreign connections” on other influential local boards.
A local argued that “Arcadia might as well be a Chinese province anyway” given the deep political business involved. Another commenter said it is concerning when a voting member was directly interested in “turning our community into a police state”.
One commenter wrote that this news represents “just another circle jerk by elites” here in the U S of A. Another user told the former mayor that they “hope they paid you a lot” for the illegal work.
One user said that people do not care about the difference and worry “every Asian will be targeted” now. Another commenter responded that the various posts on popular social media sites are often “just straight up Chinese propaganda”.
The appointment of a new mayor next week remains the only immediate path forward for the fractured local government community.
