Chinese hackers targeted phones of Trump, Vance, Harris campaign staff

Oct 28

Karah Rucker Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Reporter), Alex Delia (Producer), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)

Chinese hackers targeted the cellphones of senior Democrats and other political figures, including former President Donald Trump, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and members of the Harris campaign. The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are investigating the breaches as part of a broader cyber espionage operation reportedly linked to China.

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s, D-N.Y., staff was among the prominent Democratic targets, according to a Democratic source briefed on the situation. While it is unclear what, if any, data was accessed, U.S. officials are pursuing further investigations and say the Chinese campaign targeted numerous U.S. entities as part of a widespread effort.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is calling for an election in Israel to replace Prime Minister Netanyahu. — AP Images

The FBI and CISA issued a joint statement on Friday, Oct. 25, acknowledging the “unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure” by Chinese-linked actors. The agencies say they are collaborating across federal departments and with private industry to strengthen cyber defenses in the commercial communications sector.

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Officials aren’t yet sure what data may have been accessed, but The Washington Post reports the operation did intercept audio and text data from a Trump campaign staffer. What exactly it contains is still unknown.

Former President Donald Trump visited Valdosta, Georgia, providing truckloads of supplies during a tour of storm damage from Hurricane Helene. — Getty Images

The hack comes amid rising concerns over foreign interference in the 2024 election, with federal agencies warning of potential election meddling from China, Russia and Iran.

Microsoft released a report earlier this week detailing Chinese influence operations directed at several Republican figures known for their anti-China stance, and last summer, Iran allegedly attempted to hack the Trump campaign, reportedly trying to pass information to President Biden’s team.

Tags: 2024 Elections, China, China, Chuck Schumer, Cyber attack, cyber crimes, Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Democrats, Election, FBI, Hackers, Iran, Kamala Harris, Marco Rubio, People’s Republic of China, Republicans, Russia

[Karah Rucker]

A RECENT CHINESE HACKING CAMPAIGN TARGETED MULTIPLE HIGH-PROFILE FIGURES IN U-S POLITICS… INCLUDING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, SENATOR JD VANCE AND STAFF FOR TOP DEMOCRATS.

HACKERS LINKED TO CHINA TARGETED CELL PHONES OF TRUMP, VANCE, AND MEMBERS OF BOTH THE TRUMP AND HARRIS CAMPAIGN STAFF. OTHER NOTABLE TARGETS INCLUDED STAFF FOR SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER.

THE FBI AND CYBERSECURITY AGENCY CISA, LAUNCHED A FULL INVESTIGATION.

IN A JOINT STATEMENT… BOTH AGENCIES SAY THEY’RE INVESTIGATING WHAT THEY CALL “UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO COMMERCIAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE” TIED TO CHINESE ACTORS.

OFFICIALS AREN’T YET SURE WHAT DATA MAY HAVE BEEN ACCESSED, BUT THE WASHINGTON POST REPORTS THE OPERATION DID MANAGE TO INTERCEPT AUDIO AND TEXT DATA FROM A TRUMP CAMPAIGN STAFFER. WHAT EXACTLY IT CONTAINS IS STILL UNKNOWN.

THIS HACKING ATTEMPT COMES AS FEDERAL AGENCIES CONTINUE TO WARN THAT CHINA, RUSSIA, AND IRAN ARE ALL RAMPING UP EFFORTS TO INTERFERE WITH THE UPCOMING 2024 ELECTION. EARLIER, MICROSOFT RELEASED A REPORT SHOWING CHINESE INFLUENCE CAMPAIGNS AIMED AT REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND SENATOR MARCO RUBIO, WHO ADVOCATE FOR TOUGHER CHINA POLICIES.

MEANWHILE, IRAN WAS ACCUSED OF LAUNCHING A SEPARATE HACK AGAINST THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN OVER THE SUMMER, ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO SHARE INFORMATION IT GATHERED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN’S TEAM.

AS WE GET CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY… EXPERTS WARN THAT CYBERATTACKS AND MEDDLING WILL ONLY INCREASE. SENIOR FBI OFFICIALS WARN THAT ELECTION THREATS ARE NOW MORE DIVERSE AND EXPANSIVE THAN EVER BEFORE.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.