Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) requested that Attorney General Merrick Garland launch an investigation into potential perjury committed by TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in a June 1 press release and May 31 letter.
Rubio’s letter to the attorney general highlights Chew’s allegedly false statement made under oath during his testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding the data-security practices of TikTok.
Rubio expressed his concerns about Chew’s credibility, stating, “Chew should be held accountable for making false statements about material facts related to TikTok’s operation, as he appears to have done in this case.”
The senator called for a thorough investigation to determine whether Chew committed perjury when he denied that TikTok stored the user data of Americans in China. Rubio emphasized the importance of transparency in informing the American people about the potential threats posed by TikTok.
The letter sent to Garland details the evidence suggesting Chew’s perjury. During his testimony on March 23, Chew stated under oath that TikTok’s American users’ data was stored in the United States and Singapore, explicitly denying any storage in China.
Related Story: TikTok Stored Americans’ Social Security Numbers in China: Report
