Chinese Hackers Impersonate US Lawmaker in Trade Talks Malware Scheme

In July 2025, a sophisticated Chinese state-sponsored hacking group known as APT41 sent fraudulent emails impersonating Republican Representative John Moolenaar to U.S. government agencies, trade groups, and law firms during critical U.S.-China trade negotiations. These emails, which appeared to come from Moolenaar who chairs the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition with China, contained malware-laced attachments posing as draft legislation for sanctions against China, aiming to extract sensitive strategic information. The FBI and Capitol Police are investigating the incident after recipients noticed the suspicious emails, which were traced to APT41, a group linked to China’s Ministry of State Security. Moolenaar condemned the cyberattack as part of ongoing Chinese efforts to steal U.S. strategy and influence policy, affirming that the U.S. will not be intimidated. Chinese officials denied involvement and criticized the accusations as unfounded. This incident highlights the growing use of cyber espionage and AI-driven impersonation tactics targeting high-level U.S. officials amid escalating geopolitical tensions under President Trump’s administration.