US House panel opens probe into suspected Chinese hacking of State department's email systems

Representative James Comer, who chairs the committee, asked Commerce Secretary for staff briefings by August 9.

The US House of Representatives Oversight Committee said Wednesday it is opening an investigation into China's suspected involvement in recent breaches of Commerce and State department email systems.

Rep. James Comer (AP)

Representative James Comer, who chairs the committee, and the heads of two subcommittees asked Commerce Secretary Raimondo and Secretary of State Antony Blinken for staff briefings by August 9.

"We are also concerned that this attack on federal agencies, including the email account of a senior US government official such as yourself, reflects a new level of skill and sophistication from China’s hackers," the lawmakers wrote Raimondo.