Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) claimed he was targeted by Iran in a phishing attack disguised as an interview request in an effort to access his personal Google account.
Fine said the phishing attack was an effort from an Iranian state actor pretending to be Newsmax, requesting an interview.
“A group that we thought was Newsmax reached out, set up an interview, we attempted to do the interview, and it didn’t work out,” Fine said to the Washington Examiner.
He went on to say he was later contacted by U.S. Capitol Police, who informed him that “a state actor” tried to hack his phone. Fine later found out he was targeted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Fine said his staff had received an email from someone purporting to be Newsmax. As the staffer interacted with the email, they realized “the links didn’t work.” Upon reporting the incident to Capitol Police, Fine was put in contact with the FBI Cyber Task Force on the phishing attack.
The Florida Republican said he was likely targeted because of his religion and outspoken advocacy for the U.S.-Israel relationship and vociferous opposition to Iran.
“I’m a very outspoken Jewish member of Congress,” Fine told the Washington Examiner. “I’m very visibly Jewish. I’m the first member of Congress in American history to wear a Kippah, and I’ve been very clear and very outspoken about the risks of Muslim terror emanating from Iran, so I think given how outspoken I am on the issue and who I am as a person, it makes me a target.”
Fine said that the phishing attack is very “definitely disconcerting to know that Muslim terrorists attempted to access my cell phone, conceivably trying to gain access to my geolocation.” Fine said Iran failed to access any information that he was aware of.
Fine said they tried to get into his personal Google, but he doesn’t “live on Google” other than for the search engine and Google Maps.
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The alleged incident comes just over a month after President Donald Trump executed the first strike on Iran, which has since led to a war. Fine has been supportive of the president’s operation in Iran, as he is a staunch supporter of Israel.
The Washington Examiner reached out to USCP for comment.
Hailey Bullis contributed to this article.