A Chinese national, Xu Zewei, was arrested in Italy on charges of hacking U.S. COVID-19 research at the direction of China’s Ministry of State Security. The Department of Justice alleges that Xu and an accomplice targeted universities and medical researchers developing vaccines between 2020 and 2021. U.S. officials say the scheme reflects a broader strategy by Beijing to use private contractors to conduct cyber espionage while obscuring state involvement.

Meanwhile, former CIA and FBI directors John Brennan and James Comey are reportedly under investigation for potential misconduct tied to the Trump–Russia inquiry. Sources claim the probes involve possible false statements and procedural violations related to the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment, which concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. A recent declassification found that political pressure and the inclusion of the disputed Steele Dossier undermined the report’s credibility.

The White House called for accountability following the revelations. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that those who misled the public and misused intelligence resources should be held responsible. Both developments—the cybersecurity charges and the intelligence investigation—underscore continuing political and security tensions within and beyond the U.S.