FBI Director Kash Patel Responds to Bribery Charges and DIA Leak Investigation
FBI Director Kash Patel publicly addressed new bribery and fraud charges filed against Linda Sun, a former aide to Governors Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul, and her husband, Chris Hu. The charges stem from an alleged scheme in which the couple steered lucrative Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) contracts to companies with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While Americans were locked down and desperate for PPE, Linda Sun and Chris Hu cashed in – allegedly lining their pockets while serving CCP interests,” Patel posted on X. “This is corruption that endangered lives. The FBI will not tolerate public officials who sell out their country.” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino echoed the sentiment, writing, “Read the last sentence again. Bookmark it.” Sun and Hu were both indicted on Wednesday.
According to the indictment, the couple personally profited from over-inflated contracts and used their positions to bypass competitive bidding rules, benefiting companies with alleged foreign connections. Investigators believe they may have funneled millions in profits while U.S. healthcare workers faced PPE shortages.
Separately, the FBI is investigating a leak of a classified Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment following recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The leaked document suggested the strikes only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months. The assessment was reportedly based on “low confidence” intelligence—a detail omitted in many press reports.
Critics argue that the leak was politically motivated, aiming to downplay the effectiveness of the strikes and undercut former President Donald Trump, who had characterized the operation as a major blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The leak raised concerns about the mishandling of sensitive national security information.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed in a press briefing that the FBI is actively investigating the source of the leak. He warned that charges could follow if the leaker is identified. “This was not just carelessness—it was a targeted act meant to sway public opinion and damage operational credibility,” Hegseth said.
Republican lawmakers, including Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), are pressing for accountability. In a Fox News interview, Graham suggested the leak may have originated from within Congress. “They have a political motivation,” he said. “If you leaked classified information, you should go to jail.” Both investigations remain ongoing.