Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California is calling for an official investigation into President Donald Trump’s “reckless disregard for cybersecurity,” specifically his alleged use of two mobile phones.
Lieu sent a letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings requesting they hold hearings on whether or not Trump is using an unsecured Android smartphone, according to a press release.
“Cybersecurity experts universally agree that an ordinary Android smartphone, which the President is reportedly using despite repeated warnings from the Secret Service, can be easily hacked,” Lieu writes in the official letter, which was signed by several other members of Congress. “The device President Trump insists on using–most likely the Samsung Galaxy S3–has particularly well-documented vulnerabilities.” (RELATED: There Are At Least 170 Million Internet-Connected Devices Susceptible To Hacking In The U.S.)
Reports have been circulating that Trump is circumventing traditional security protocol for his electronic communications by using two separate cell phones. The president seems to have set up a sort of “secret system” with friends and colleagues.
A person who wants to have the president’s ear can simply call and either leave a voicemail on the old phone, or hope that Trump sees the caller ID. If the president so chooses, he will call back from his state-sponsored secure device, bypassing the standard procedure, while still seemingly observing the letter of the law. (RELATED: White House Suddenly Removes Head Cybersecurity Officer)
Lieu and other lawmakers are concerned about such a practice, arguing that it leaves some of the most sensitive and classified information in America predisposed to hacking and foreign surveillance. (RELATED: Advanced Cybersecurity: The Simple Password May Soon Be Obsolete)
Lieu is one of the few congressmen who has a background in technology. He graduated with a computer science degree from Stanford University. Lieu, along with Republican Rep. Will Hurd, wrote a letter in May urging their colleagues to employ two-factor authentication on their devices, which uses other personal credentials to add extra layers to log-in security.
Lieu’s office did not respond to a request for comment by publication.
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