Eileen Wang, the mayor of Arcadia, has been charged with acting as an illegal foreign agent for China, the United States Department of Justice announced Monday.

Federal prosecutors said Wang has agreed to plead guilty.

According to court documents, Wang and an associate, Yaoning ‘Mike’ Sun, began operating a website known as U.S. News Center in late 2020. The site presented itself as a news platform serving the Chinese-American community.

Prosecutors alleged that Wang and Sun received instructions from officials tied to the government of the People’s Republic of China and published content supportive of Beijing’s positions. In some cases, they allegedly sought approval from Chinese officials before distributing material online.

In one example cited by the Justice Department, Wang reportedly circulated an article promoting calls by Chinese and Russian ambassadors for Americans to respect China’s “democratic rights.”

“This is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to send,” Wang allegedly wrote, according to the plea agreement.

Authorities said Wang admitted she failed to notify the U.S. attorney general that she was acting on behalf of the Chinese government, as required under federal law.

Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg said the allegations were especially troubling given Wang’s elected position.

“Individuals elected to public office in the United States should act only for the people of the United States that they represent,” Eisenberg said. “It is deeply concerning that someone who previously received and executed directives from PRC government officials is now in a position of public trust, particularly when that relationship was never disclosed.”