Chinese National Arrested in Italy Over U.S. COVID-19 Research Hacking; Former CIA and FBI Directors Face Investigations

A Chinese national has been arrested in Italy at the request of U.S. federal authorities on charges of cyber-espionage. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that 33-year-old Xu Zewei is accused of hacking into American institutions to steal sensitive COVID-19 research on behalf of the Chinese government.

Xu’s arrest comes amid enduring geopolitical tensions between the United States and China, particularly concerning the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing rivalry over global technological and scientific dominance. The virus, which first appeared in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, spread rapidly around the globe, causing millions of deaths and significant economic turmoil.

According to the DOJ’s statement, Xu is alleged to have targeted U.S. universities, research facilities, and medical experts—especially those working in the fields of immunology and virology—who were involved in the development of vaccines, treatments, and testing protocols during the height of the pandemic.

The DOJ further explained that Xu’s actions were directed by the Shanghai State Security Bureau (SSSB), a division of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), which is responsible for conducting intelligence and surveillance operations. Xu, along with an alleged co-conspirator, Zhang Yu, was taken into custody by Italian authorities on July 3. Both individuals are named in a nine-count federal indictment recently unsealed in the Southern District of Texas.

The indictment outlines cyberattacks that allegedly occurred between February 2020 and June 2021, a period when global institutions were racing to develop effective countermeasures against COVID-19. The DOJ stated that the hacking campaign was part of a broader Chinese strategy to use private contractors and companies as proxies to mask state involvement in cyber espionage operations.

“These charges are part of an ongoing effort to disrupt the PRC’s use of cyber intrusions to steal sensitive U.S. data and intellectual property,” the DOJ’s announcement read. “The use of private front companies allows the PRC government to distance itself from illegal activities, while still reaping the strategic benefits.”

In a separate development, former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey are reportedly under criminal investigation over possible misconduct related to the handling of the Trump–Russia probe. DOJ sources revealed to Fox News Digital that the investigations center around whether Brennan and Comey made false statements to Congress and whether their conduct amounted to conspiracy during the origins and development of the 2016 election interference inquiry.

Current CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly referred evidence involving Brennan to the FBI. One focus of the probe is the creation of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), which concluded that Russia had interfered in the 2016 U.S. election to aid then-candidate Donald Trump.

A recently declassified internal review, dubbed a “lessons learned” report, found significant flaws in how the assessment was compiled. According to the report, the process deviated from standard intelligence practices and involved inappropriate political influence from Obama-era appointees. The review criticized the decision to include information from the controversial Steele dossier, a document filled with unverified claims about Trump’s alleged ties to Russia.

The dossier, which has since been widely discredited, was funded by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. The review found that Brennan had actively pushed for its inclusion in the intelligence assessment despite internal warnings.

In fact, a newly declassified email from December 2016—sent by a senior CIA official—warned Brennan that including the dossier would damage the credibility of the entire assessment. Yet in 2023 congressional testimony, Brennan stated he did not believe the dossier should have been used, raising questions about the accuracy of his statements under oath.

Sources familiar with the matter suggest that the FBI is examining these actions as part of a broader conspiracy investigation, which could carry serious legal implications for both Brennan and Comey.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, speaking on behalf of former President Donald Trump, expressed support for the investigations, stating, “President Trump was right all along. Those who participated in this politically motivated scandal must be held accountable for misleading the public and targeting a sitting president.”

While the full scope of these investigations remains uncertain, the overlapping issues of cybersecurity, political integrity, and foreign interference continue to stir deep controversy in Washington and beyond.