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.
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.
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.
