Washington | May 12, 2026: The U.S. Department of Justice announced on May 11 that it has filed charges in federal court against Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, California. The 58-year-old Wang is accused of conducting political propaganda under the direction of the Chinese government without registering with U.S. authorities.

Admission of Guilt and Resignation

According to the Department of Justice, the suspect, Wang, has pleaded guilty and reached a "plea deal" with prosecutors. She resigned from her position as mayor on the same day. An investigation report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) indicates that from late 2020 to 2022, Wang acted under the instructions of the Chinese government without registering as a "foreign agent."

Content of the Accusations

The indictment states that while managing a website targeted at local Chinese Americans, Wang disseminated political propaganda from the Chinese government. Specifically, she published content denying the existence of genocide in the Uyghur region and forced labor in cotton production. If fully convicted, she could face up to 10 years in prison.

Reaction from Judicial Authorities

Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the U.S. Department of Justice, issued a statement saying: "It is extremely concerning that an individual acting under the direction of the Chinese government held public office in the United States. The fact that her relationship with a foreign government was kept secret further compounds the gravity of the matter."

Eileen Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council in November 2022, where the mayoralty is held by council members on a rotating basis. According to data, approximately 60% of Arcadia's population is of Asian (Chinese) descent.