Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, was recently informed by the bureau that he had become a target of Iranian hackers, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN. One of the sources indicated that the hackers likely succeeded in accessing some of Patel’s communications.
In recent months, foreign hackers have repeatedly targeted individuals in Trump’s inner circle. Last month, the FBI notified Todd Blanche, one of Trump’s leading attorneys and his current nominee for Deputy Attorney General, that his mobile phone had been hacked by Chinese hackers, according to three sources cited by CNN. The Chinese government has denied the U.S. allegations of involvement in the attack.
Blanche is the second Trump attorney believed to have been targeted by foreign hackers. In August, CNN reported that attorney Lindsey Halligan had been subjected to an attack as part of a separate Iranian hacking operation. Donald Trump Jr. also revealed that the FBI had warned him he was considered “a primary target” by Iran.
In June, Iranian hackers breached the email account of Trump’s longtime ally Roger Stone, using it in an attempt to access the email of a senior staff member from Trump’s campaign team. The Iranian government has denied U.S. accusations of attempts to interfere in the November elections.
