FBI brings alleged China-linked hacker to US in rare extradition as Patel defends Italy trip

The FBI extradited Xu Zewei, a Chinese national linked to China's Ministry of State Security, for hacking U.S. COVID-19 research between 2020–2021. FBI Director Kash Patel credited a 2026 Italy trip for enabling collaboration with Italian authorities to apprehend Xu, who allegedly targeted U.S. universities and researchers during the pandemic. Chinese officials reportedly attempted to block the extradition.