NEW YORK -- A former aide to two New York governors started trial Wednesday on charges she sold her influence to the Chinese government and illegally profited from the state's bulk purchase of face masks during the covid-19 pandemic.

Linda Sun and her husband, Chris Hu, were arrested last year during a U.S. crackdown on Chinese espionage. They were charged again in June as part of the government's efforts to root out pandemic fraud.

"Linda Sun was for sale," prosecutor Amanda Shami told jurors in an opening statement.

Sun and Hu made millions of dollars from their illicit conduct and reaped other rewards, including Nanjing-style salted ducks, a delicacy prepared by a Chinese official's personal chef and delivered to Sun's parents' New York home, prosecutors said.

"The evidence will sho

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