Microsoft facing Hill criticism for director’s “martyr” comments on Trump
Microsoft is facing scrutiny after a board member stated his desire for President Donald Trump to be a “martyr” and a recently released report alleged that the company is routing customer support phone calls from Department of Defense contractors to China.
LinkedIn co-founder and Microsoft board member Reid Hoffman, said just days before a gunman attempted to murder Trump that he wanted Trump to be an “actual martyr.” Over many years, Hoffman has flooded Democratic campaigns with millions of dollars.
Hoffman apologized for his remarks, which hasn’t quieted critics in Congress, and which may impact Microsoft’s ability to persuade lawmakers on issues related to the company.
“I don’t know what’s more pathetic: another left wing lunatic calling for violence against Donald Trump and spreading conspiracy theories about his attempted assassination, or the fact that Democrats won’t say anything about it because he gives them so much in campaign donations,” Rep. Mike Collins (R., Ga.), who sits on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, told the Reporter.
One of Hoffman’s now-former top aides peddled a bizarre false flag-style conspiracy about the failed assassination attempt. Microsoft did not respond to multiple requests for comment about whether its board member’s rhetoric aligns with the company’s values.
Microsoft is also fielding reports that the company is routing support calls after-hours from Department of Defense contractors to China.
“Microsoft is routing calls for DoD contractor environments to China,” Prescott Paulin — a self-described Department of Defense contractor — wrote on LinkedIn. “When I get locked out of one of my defense related accounts after hours, the only option is to speak with a Chinese national to get assistance.” Paulin included a video where Microsoft’s support staffer told him “I’m located in China.” Microsoft did not respond to multiple requests for comment about this allegation.
The company has faced bipartisan fire for China-related problems before. Earlier this year, a Biden-ordered cyber safety report “determined that Microsoft could have prevented Storm-0558’s hack, a nefarious group affiliated with the People’s Republic of China,” Fox Business reported. “They pointed to several operational and strategic decisions that underscored a corporate culture that failed to prioritize security and risk management.”
