Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director, targeted in possible Iran-backed cyberattack, sources say
Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump Choosing to Lead the F.B.I.Two people familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News that he was recently informed that he may have been the target of an Iran-backed cyberattack.
The apparent hackers targeted his communications, but whether they were successful and what access they had to the data is still being evaluated, people familiar with the matter said.
The FBI declined to comment. CBS News also reached out to the Trump transition team for comment.
Semafor first reported the possible Iranian targeting of Patel.
This is after months of warning The FBI and other federal agencies conducted an Iranian cyber campaign targeting Trump campaign staff ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In September, Justice Department prosecutors Accused three members Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have launched widespread hacking attacks against U.S. officials, including those close to Trump.
In August, Microsoft said Iran is increasing Its efforts to influence the November election included an email phishing attack targeting the presidential campaign.
Trump and his allies, including members of his first administration, have been targeted by Iran ever since The killings of 2020 General Qassem Soleimani participated in U.S. airstrikes in Baghdad, and U.S. officials have continued to warn of these cyberattacks in recent months.
44 year old patel Serve Served in intelligence and defense positions during Trump’s first term, including chief of staff to the secretary of defense. He was also designated by Trump to represent the National Archives and Records Administration and fought for a subpoena to testify before a federal grand jury. Mar-a-Lago Confidential Documents Case.
He is a lawyer and Trump loyalist who rose to prominence as an aide to former Republican Rep. Devin Nunes of California. investigation Russia interfered in the 2016 election.
He served on Trump’s National Security Council, then as a senior adviser to acting Director of National Intelligence Rick Grenell and later as chief of staff to acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller.
