Arcadia: The mayor of Arcadia, a city in Southern California, has resigned after being indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges of acting as an unauthorized spy for China. Eileen Wang, who held the mayoral office, stepped down this week following the charges filed against her for allegedly operating as an unauthorized foreign agent for the Chinese government. Alongside her resignation from the city council, she has pleaded guilty to the accusations.

According to Thai News Agency, the Justice Department revealed that Wang's involvement with Chinese officials occurred prior to her tenure as mayor. Between 2020 and 2022, Wang collaborated with Chinese authorities to spread pro-government narratives on a US News Center website, which she and her accomplices orchestrated to mimic a local news platform for Chinese Americans. Evidence indicates that Wang received directives from Chinese government officials to publish content endorsing Chinese policies, including articles countering claims of human rights violations in the Xinjiang region. Under U.S. law, Wang was required to register as an agent for a foreign government but failed to do so. If found guilty, she faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Wang's attorney released a statement expressing her remorse and accountability for her past decisions, attributing them to misplaced trust and affection for her former fianc© and campaign advisor. This individual was recently sentenced to four years in prison in early 2026 on similar espionage charges related to China.

The Arcadia City Council has assured residents that an internal investigation revealed no misuse of city funds or resources in Wang's illegal actions, emphasizing that such activities ceased before she became mayor in December 2022. The council plans to elect a new mayor in its upcoming meeting.