"Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. "This plea agreement is the latest success in our determination to defend the homeland against China’s efforts to corrupt our institutions."
The FBI framed the case as a warning about foreign interference in American politics.
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"By her own admission, Eileen Wang secretly served the interests of the Chinese government," said FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky. "Let this serve as a clear warning individuals who act on behalf of foreign governments to influence our democracy will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice."
Despite the covert relationship, Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022 and later became mayor through the council’s rotating system. The conduct outlined by prosecutors occurred before she assumed office.
She is expected to formally enter the guilty plea in federal court and has not yet been sentenced.
The agreement also makes clear that if Wang is not a U.S. citizen, her felony conviction could trigger deportation or denial of future citizenship. The plea agreement describes those as potential immigration consequences.
Wang has agreed to resign from public office and is expected to formally enter her guilty plea in the coming weeks as the FBI investigation continues.
Arcadia city officials said the case is tied to Wang’s individual conduct and does not impact city operations.
In a message to residents, City Manager Dominic Wang has resigned from the City Council, vacating her role as mayor, following the federal charges.
"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 city said in a statement. "We take them seriously."
City officials said the conduct outlined in the case occurred before Wang took office in December 2022 and emphasized that no city resources or decision-making processes were affected.
"Following an internal review, we can confirm that no City finances, staff, or decision-making processes were involved," the statement said.
Officials added that no other members of the City Council are under investigation and that city business is continuing as normal.
Fox News' Matt Finn contributed to this report.
