Fed Official's Web of Deceit Exposed in China Espionage Scandal

A former senior Federal Reserve official, John Harold Rogers, was arrested in January 2025 for allegedly spying on behalf of China. The investigation revealed that Rogers had been passing sensitive information about the Fed to a Chinese government agent, who had become entwined in his professional and personal life.

The agent, identified as Jin Chuan, also known as Hummin Lee, first met Rogers at a conference in Shanghai in 2013. Over time, Lee befriended Rogers, sending him Christmas gifts and even inviting him to lecture at universities in China. However, investigators believe that Lee's intentions were not pure.

Rogers' relationship with Lee took a backseat when he met Yu Liu, a young woman on an online dating site called AsianDating.com. The two quickly fell in love, but Rogers later discovered that Yu didn't speak English, and her messages were likely written by Chinese intelligence.

The investigation also revealed that Rogers had been using online dating sites to meet women, including AsianDating.com, where he met Yu. He sent nude photos to people he met online, making him a target for Chinese intelligence.