FBI Arrests Chinese National Accused of Stealing COVID-19 Research
A 33-year-old Chinese national, Xu Zewei, was arrested in Italy at the request of U.S. authorities, who have charged him with hacking into American COVID-19 research databases on behalf of the Chinese government, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.
The arrest took place at Milan’s Malpensa Airport on July 3, 2025, and stems from a nine-count indictment unsealed in the Southern District of Texas. Xu is accused of targeting U.S. universities, virologists, and immunologists involved in vaccine, treatment, and testing research during the height of the pandemic.
According to the DOJ, Xu carried out the cyberattacks under the direction of the Shanghai State Security Bureau (SSSB)—a regional arm of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). The alleged intrusions occurred between February 2020 and June 2021, and are linked to the broader HAFNIUM (also known as Silk Typhoon) state-sponsored hacking campaign.
Xu’s co-conspirator, Zhang Yu, was also detained in Italy. Prosecutors say the hackers exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange servers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The U.S. is currently seeking extradition.
“This case highlights the PRC’s use of contractors and shell companies to obscure the government’s role in widespread cyber espionage,” the DOJ said in a statement.
Unrelated Political Claims Surface
Separately, Fox News Digital has reported that former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey are allegedly under criminal investigation for potential misconduct tied to the 2016 Trump–Russia probe. The report cites unnamed Justice Department sources but provides no public confirmation or official comment from the DOJ.
According to the report, current CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred possible evidence of wrongdoing to FBI Director Kash Patel. The claims center on the controversial Steele Dossier and whether it was improperly included in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) on Russian election interference.
Though Fox alleges that newly declassified internal CIA communications contradict Brennan’s past testimony before Congress, these claims have not been independently verified. The DOJ has not released any indictments or official statements connecting Brennan or Comey to a criminal investigation.
Conclusion
The charges against Xu Zewei are confirmed and part of a broader effort by the U.S. government to counter state-sponsored cyber theft. However, separate political allegations involving Obama-era intelligence officials remain unverified and appear unrelated to the hacking case.