Cyberspies affiliated with the Chinese government impersonated a key House Republican lawmaker as part of a plot to undermine national security, Axios reported on Monday.
"Hackers sent emails purportedly from Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) to key leaders ahead of a meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials in Sweden this summer asking for input on draft legislation," said the report. "However, the attached document, which was sent from a nongovernmental email address, was instead laced with spyware that would infect a victim's computer"
Moolenaar serves as the chair of the House China Select Committee. According to the report, investigators have linked the hackers to the Chinese Ministry of State Security.
"This is another example of China's offensive cyber operations designed to steal American strategy and leverage it against Congress, the Administration, and the American people," said Moolenaar in a statement issued on Monday. We will not be intimidated, and we will continue our work to keep America safe."
Meanwhile, the FBI confirmed to Axios, "We are working with our partners to identify and pursue those responsible."
U.S. lawmakers have long had to be vigilant in the face of attempted espionage.
Over a decade ago, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was approached by a suspected Chinese spy named Christine Fang. He severed all contact when the FBI alerted him he was being targeted, but since then, Republicans have used this incident as a political attack against him, as well as a justification to eject him from committees that review classified intelligence.
