After being slandered by the Chinese Communist Party, Rubio and four other U.S. congressmen responded strongly

 Direct translation

Reporter : Xia Yu / Editor : Ye Ziwei / https://www.epochtimes.com/b5/24/10/24/n14356878.htm / Image : Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) attends a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump (Trump) in Doral, Florida, on 9 July 2024. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

On Wednesday (23 October 2024), Microsoft released a new study showing that an army of social media robots controlled by the Chinese Communist Party is trying to influence the United States election, slandering many Republican members of the U.S. Congress who are tough on the CCP. The senators and representatives also responded forcefully.

Microsoft emphasized that the Chinese Communist Party’s influence activities targeted Alabama U.S. Representative Barry Moore, Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, and Texas U.S. Representative Michael McCaw. Michael McCaul and Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, among others.

Image : On 29 January 2024, U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (Republican of Texas) spoke at a press conference in the Capitol. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

These bot armies criticized Barry Moore for his support of Israel and used anti-Semitic language; smeared Marco Rubio for his involvement in financial corruption schemes; and spread the idea that Martha Blackburn received money from pharmaceutical companies. Regarding Texas Congressman Michael McCaul, the CCP claims that he engages in insider trading.

Rubio responded in a statement that he believed the Chinese Communist Party's goal was to "shape American opinion on key issues and target specific candidates, especially those they view as anti-Communist."

Image : On 19 July 2023, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn spoke at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol Building. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Rubio, the senior Republican senator on the Senate Intelligence Committee, also said that the Chinese Communist Party "is becoming more and more aggressive and needs to be taken very seriously."

Senator Blackburn issued a statement saying that she will not give up her mission to defeat the Chinese Communist Party.

McCaul, a leading China hawk in the U.S. Congress, was sanctioned by Beijing after visiting Taiwan last year. McCaul said in a statement that he considers it "an honor when the Chinese Communist Party - a major human rights violator, free speech censor and oppressor of its own people - takes issue with my work. "

He also reiterated that he "makes fighting the CCP a core part of his career."

Image : Alabama Congressman Barry Moore (Public domain)

"The United States must be prepared to resist Chinese Communist aggression and continue to stand with Israel and Taiwan," Rep. Moore said in a statement.

Moore also said, "China (the Chinese Communist Party) has made it clear that they will use every weapon in their arsenal, including offensive cyber capabilities, to try to destroy democracy around the world."

Moore, McCaul and Blackburn are all up for re-election next month. Rubio serves as vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and will not run for re-election until 2028.

Clint Watts, general manager of Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center, said in a press release: "History shows that the ability of foreign powers to quickly spread deceptive content can seriously affect public perception and election results. Voters, government agencies, Candidates and political parties must pay special attention to the 48 hours before and after Election Day and remain vigilant against deceptive and suspicious activity online."

(This article refers to reports from The Guardian, Semafor and Reuters)