By Steve Neavling
Iranian hackers have reportedly targeted Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for FBI chief, in a cyberattack, signaling a concerning breach within the incoming administration.
According to CNN, citing two sources, “at least some of Patel’s communications” were infiltrated.
The Trump team did not provide specific details about the alleged attack but defended Patel’s qualifications.
“Kash Patel was a key part of the first Trump administration’s efforts against the terrorist Iranian regime and will implement President Trump’s policies to protect America from adversaries as the FBI Director,” Transition spokesman Alex Pfeiffer said.
Patel previously held prominent roles in the first Trump administration, including serving on the National Security Council, advising the acting director of national intelligence, and acting as chief of staff to former Defense Secretary Chris Miller.
Trump has been informed by federal agencies that he remains a high-priority target for Iran, a threat underscored by recent cyber activities. In August, a joint statement from the FBI, ODNI, and CISA reported “activities to compromise former President Trump’s campaign,” which U.S. intelligence attributed to Iran.
Tech giants Google and Microsoft also revealed they disrupted Iranian-led phishing campaigns ahead of the 2024 election, while OpenAI reported shutting down ChatGPT accounts linked to Iranian disinformation efforts. In September, an unsealed indictment accused three Iranian men of hacking into the email account of a Trump campaign official during the summer, gaining access to sensitive debate preparation materials and information on potential vice-presidential candidates.
The hackers, allegedly tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are believed to have been conducting cyber campaigns since January 2020. These operations followed the U.S. drone strike ordered by Trump that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, further escalating tensions between the two nations.
