U.S. lawmakers condemn attack at Epoch Times printing press in Hong Kong

Congressional Republicans are condemning the most recent attack on the Epoch Times' Hong Kong printing press.

The conservative-leaning news outlet reported that on April 12 four men – including two armed with sledgehammers –entered the printing facility and damaged machinery and computers prior to leaving with a computer.

"The repeated, violent attacks on The Epoch Times shock the conscience," GOP Rep. Devin Nunes, of California, said in a statement. "Clearly, the Chinese Communist Party and its street thugs cannot abide any media outlet reporting the facts about the Party’s depredations."

The outlet, which said the facility has been repeated vandalized since established in 2006, reported that Republican Rep. Scott Perry, of Pennsylvania, said that it would not be surprising if the Chinese Communist Party were responsible for the incident.

"It would be no surprise if the CCP were behind such an attack as they consistently seek to extinguish any light that exposes the dark sea of repression that keeps their illegitimate government afloat," Perry said via an emailed statement.

GOP Rep. Jim Banks, of Indiana,characterized the attack as "reprehensible," according to the outlet.

"The freedom of the press in Hong Kong is under attack from the Chinese Communist Party," the congressman said in a statement.