![Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CLEAN-GettyImagesKashPatel_Getty-Images_featuredImage_Wed-Dec-04-2024.jpg?w=1920)
Trump’s pick for head of FBI target of Iranian-backed cyberattack: US
By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Michael Edwards (Video Editor)
U.S. intelligence revealed on Tuesday, Dec. 3, that an alleged Iranian-backed cyberattack targeted Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the FBI. The FBI reportedly told Patel the hackers attempted to infiltrate his communications.
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It’s unclear if the hackers succeeded in their attempt or how much information they stole.
Although Trump’s team didn’t specifically respond to the latest suspected cyberattack, Trump transition spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer told CBS News, “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.”
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Trump announced Patel as his pick to lead the FBI on Saturday, Nov. 30. Patel was Trump’s chief of staff to the secretary of defense during Trump’s first term in office.
Patel’s appointment will need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate when Trump returns to the White House on Jan. 20.
The latest revelation of alleged Iranian meddling in U.S. affairs comes after warnings from U.S. authorities of Iran-based cyber sabotage attempts on Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
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In September, the U.S. charged three members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps with a cyberattack on Trump’s campaign. The three were accused of leaking stolen information to Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign.
[KARAH RUCKER]
U-S INTELLIGENCE SAYS AN IRANIAN-BACKED CYBERATTACK TARGETED KASH PATEL, PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S PICK TO HEAD THE FBI.
THE F-B-I REPORTEDLY TOLD PATEL HACKERS ATTEMPTED TO INFILTRATE HIS COMMUNICATIONS.
IT’S UNCLEAR IF THE HACKERS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR ATTEMPT OR HOW MUCH INFORMATION THEY WERE ABLE TO STEAL.
ALTHOUGH TRUMP’S TEAM DIDN’T SPECIFICALLY RESPOND TO THE LATEST CYBERATTACK, A SPOKESPERSON DID TELL C-B-S NEWS:
“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 F–B-I DIRECTOR.”
TRUMP ANNOUNCED PATEL AS HIS PICK TO LEAD THE F-B-I OVER THE WEEKEND AND PATEL WAS TRUMP’S CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DURING HIS FIRST TERM IN OFFICE.
PATEL’S APPOINTMENT WILL NEED TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE WHEN TRUMP RETURNS TO THE WHITE HOUSE ON JANUARY 20TH.
THE LATEST REVELATION OF ALLEGED IRANIAN MEDDLING IN U-S AFFAIRS COMES AFTER WARNINGS FROM U-S AUTHORITIES OF IRAN-BASED CYBER SABOTAGE ATTEMPTS ON TRUMP’S 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE U-S CHARGED THREE MEMBERS OF IRAN’S ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD WITH A CYBERATTACK ON TRUMP’S CAMPAIGN.
THE THREE ARE ACCUSED OF LEAKING STOLEN INFORMATION TO THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.
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