(VitalNews.org) – In a shocking breach of national security, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, Kash Patel, was recently cyberattacked and reportedly tracked back to Iran.
The cyberattack on Patel happened on a weekday, sending shockwaves through Washington and the intelligence community.
Patel, a long-time supporter of Trump who held various roles in his first administration, was recently announced as the nominee to replace current FBI director Christopher Wray, whom Trump plans to dismiss upon taking office.
Trump transition spokesman Alex Pfeiffer emphasized Patel’s qualifications for the role, stating:
“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.”
The attack on Patel is not an isolated incident. It is part of a larger pattern targeting Trump’s inner circle, including Roger Stone and attorney Lindsey Halligan.
Even Donald Trump Jr. claimed he was “one of the top targets” of Iranian hackers, underscoring the widespread nature of these cyber threats.
Scoop: I’m told Kash Patel and a few others on Trump team were the targets of an “Iranian cyber attack” — unclear if hack was successful or material compromised. More TK
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) December 4, 2024
While the full extent of the information accessed by the hackers remains unclear, the implications are deeply troubling.
This breach follows a previous hack on Trump’s campaign in August, which the FBI attributed to Iranian actors.
In that incident, hacked emails containing non-public campaign material were distributed to Democrat party officials, raising concerns about the integrity of the upcoming election.
“These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process,” warned Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
The U.S. government has not been idle in the face of these threats. Three Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members have been indicted for their involvement in a cyber campaign against U.S. officials.
FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom Patel is set to replace, claimed:
“Today’s charges represent the culmination of a thorough and long-running FBI investigation that has resulted in the indictment of three Iranian nationals for their roles in a wide-ranging hacking campaign sponsored by the Government of Iran.”
While Tehran officials denied involvement in these hacking attempts, the evidence points to a coordinated effort by Iran to interfere with the nation’s top officials.
Copyright 2024, VitalNews.org
