Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, Blinken said that the compromised email accounts, which included those of the U.S. ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, were unclassified and that the department's classified system had not been breached. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s unclassified email account was accessed, as well.
He said that the sophistication of the attack was shown by the hackers' ability to breach the State Department system, remain in it for a long period and target the accounts of senior officials. He added that it likely involved months of preparation. Blinken also played down the failure of the Biden administration's climate envoy, John Kerry, to secure an agreement with China during a recent visit to Beijing.
Asked about Russia, Blinken said that the recent mutiny by members of the Wagner Group showed the weakness of the government of Vladimir Putin."We’ve seen cracks emerge in the facade," he said.