FBI agents confiscated Senator Lindsey Graham’s cellphone earlier this week following his claim of receiving a peculiar text message from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). According to reports, the sender of the message was actually posing as Schumer, suggesting a possible hacking incident involving the New York Democrat’s device. Addressing the matter at the annual The Hill and Valley Forum in Washington on Wednesday, the South Carolina Republican shared his thoughts.
The event, as reported by The Western Journal, brings together individuals from the technology industry, private business, security sectors, lawmakers, and other influential figures. While discussing concerns related to artificial intelligence and espionage, Graham transitioned the conversation towards cybersecurity.
“My phone is in the hands of the FBI now,” Graham began. “So, I get a message, I think, from Schumer. It ain’t from Schumer. And the next thing you know, my phone is — I don’t know — anything you can create apparently can be hacked.”
Graham stated that he was uncertain about the duration for which the FBI would possess his device. A representative for Graham verified the authenticity of the account. “The Sergeant at Arms is investigating a possible hack of Senator Graham’s phone,” Taylor Reidy told NBC News.
The Hill’s report seemed to imply that Schumer’s device was not cutting-edge from the beginning. “Chuck Schumer isn’t texting you from his flip phone,” a Democratic Senate aide said. “If you get a text message from Schumer, it probably isn’t real.” The individual claimed that Schumer utilizes an antiquated flip phone manufactured by LG, which he has possessed since prior to the widespread popularity of text messaging.