U.S. authorities are probing a malware-laden email disguised as coming from Republican Representative John Moolenaar, aimed at infiltrating organizations connected to U.S.-China trade negotiations, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
The July email was sent to trade groups, law firms, and government agencies, asking recipients to review draft legislation. Cyber analysts traced the malware to APT41, a hacking group widely believed to be linked to Chinese intelligence. Opening the attachment would have given hackers deep access to the targets’ systems.
Moolenaar, a vocal critic of Beijing and chair of a congressional committee on U.S.-China competition, said the incident was “another example of Chinese cyber operations aimed at stealing U.S. strategy,” adding: “We will not be intimidated.”
The attack coincided with sensitive trade talks in Sweden, which temporarily extended a tariff truce between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping until their expected November meeting at an Asian economic summit.
The Chinese embassy in Washington denied knowledge of the incident, stressing opposition to all cyberattacks while warning against “smearing others without solid evidence.”
The FBI confirmed it is working with partners to track those responsible. Meanwhile, the Capitol Police are investigating after staff on Moolenaar’s committee noticed unusual inquiries about the fake message.
The episode adds to mounting evidence of Beijing-linked cyber campaigns targeting U.S. institutions to gain insight into trade and national security deliberations.