Kaš Patel, chosen by newly elected President Donald Trump to lead the FBI, was recently informed by the Bureau that he was targeted in an Iranian hacking attack, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
It is believed that hackers accessed at least some of Patel’s communications, according to one of the sources.
Trump’s transition spokesperson, Alex Fifer, declined to specifically comment on the hacking situation in a statement to CNN.
“Kaš Patel was a key part of the first Trump administration’s efforts against the terrorist Iranian regime and will carry out President Trump’s policy to protect America from adversaries as FBI Director,” Fifer said in a statement.
Members of Trump’s inner circle have been targeted by foreign hackers in recent months. Last month, the FBI informed Todd Blanche, one of Trump’s top lawyers and now his nominee for Deputy Attorney General, that Chinese hackers had intercepted his mobile phone, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN earlier. The Chinese government denied the U.S. claims that it was behind the hack.
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Blanche was the second of Trump’s lawyers believed to have been targeted by foreign hackers. CNN reported in August that lawyer Lindsy Halligan was targeted as part of a separate Iranian hacking attempt.
Donald Trump Jr. also said that the FBI had informed him that he was “one of the main targets” of Iran.
Iran has targeted members of Trump’s first administration for years, and recently sent information stolen from his presidential campaign to individuals linked to President Joe Biden’s campaign this summer. Iranian hackers breached the email account of long-time Trump ally Roger Stone in June and used the account to attempt to hack into the email of a senior Trump campaign official, investigators said.
The Iranian government denied the U.S. claims that it was attempting to interfere in the November elections.
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Source: Nova.rs, Photo: REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo