Ex-Hochul Aide’s CCP Family Ties Spark Concerns in New York Politics

In a startling revelation, a former key aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Elaine Fan Xiaojiang, has been linked to a family deeply entrenched in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda apparatus. Fan, who served as Hochul’s director of Asian affairs from 2021 to 2023, is now the chief of staff for Scott Stringer’s mayoral campaign, drawing scrutiny over her familial ties and potential implications for New York politics.

Fan, originally from Beijing, is the daughter of Fan Dongsheng, a former deputy director in the CCP’s Central Propaganda Department and a figure in state-run media. Her grandfather, Fan Changjiang, was a prominent CCP propagandist since the 1930s, and her uncle held significant roles within the party. These connections raise serious questions about the influence of foreign political agendas in American governance, especially given Fan’s active participation in events hosted by the Chinese Consulate in New York and United Front organizations—groups known for promoting CCP interests globally.

Before her political career, Fan worked as a chief reporter for Ming Pao Daily News, a publication flagged for heavy influence by the Chinese government. Her father also led China Press in New York, later designated as state-backed propaganda by the U.S. State Department. Experts, including those from the Jamestown Foundation, express alarm over Fan’s apparent embrace of her family’s legacy, noting her speeches at CCP-affiliated events and institutions honoring her grandfather.

Adding to the concern, Fan’s tenure under Hochul coincided with another controversy involving a former aide, Linda Sun, indicted for violations related to foreign agent activities. While Fan herself has not been charged, her presence at high-profile CCP celebrations and her family’s history paint a troubling picture. As Michael Sobolik from the Hudson Institute starkly put it, if Fan has ties to CCP-controlled media, her role in U.S. politics is a risk that demands scrutiny.

This situation underscores a broader issue: the potential for foreign influence to seep into local politics under the guise of cultural exchange. With Fan now in a pivotal role in Stringer’s campaign, New York voters must weigh whether such connections compromise the integrity of their elected offices.