A cyber espionage group believed to be based in China has reportedly gained unauthorized access to email accounts used by staff working for influential committees in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to a report by the Financial Times published on Wednesday. The information was shared by sources familiar with the investigation.
The group, known as Salt Typhoon, is said to have infiltrated email systems used by personnel associated with the House China committee, along with aides serving on committees overseeing foreign affairs, intelligence, and armed services. The report did not specify the identities of the staff members affected.
Reuters said it was unable to independently confirm the details of the report. Responding to the allegations, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu criticized what he described as “unfounded speculation and accusations.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation declined to comment, while the White House and the offices of the four reportedly targeted committees did not immediately respond to media inquiries.
According to one source cited by the Financial Times, it remains uncertain whether the attackers managed to access the personal email accounts of lawmakers themselves. The suspected intrusions were reportedly discovered in December.
Members of Congress and their staff, particularly those involved in overseeing the U.S. military and intelligence apparatus, have historically been frequent targets of cyber surveillance. Over the years, multiple incidents involving hacking or attempted breaches of congressional systems have been reported.
In November, the Senate Sergeant at Arms alerted several congressional offices to a “cyber incident” in which hackers may have accessed communications between the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and certain Senate offices. Separately, a 2023 report by the Washington Post revealed that two senior U.S. lawmakers were targeted in a hacking campaign linked to Vietnam.
Salt Typhoon has been a persistent concern for the U.S. intelligence community. The group, which U.S. officials allege is connected to Chinese intelligence services, has been accused of collecting large volumes of data from Americans’ telephone communications and intercepting conversations, including those involving senior U.S. politicians and government officials.
China has repeatedly rejected accusations of involvement in such cyber spying activities. Early last year, the United States imposed sanctions on alleged hacker Yin Kecheng and the cybersecurity firm Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology, accusing both of playing a role in Salt Typhoon’s operations.
