Go to Nakamura Reuters
The exact timing of the cyber attack is unclear, but it was before Trump named Patel as his choice for the next FBI chief.
Hackers are believed to have targeted some of Patel’s communications. It is unclear whether they actually accessed the communications and, if so, how much data was viewed or stolen, the sources said.
The FBI declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
Current FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose 10-year term does not expire until 2027, would have to resign or be fired for Patel to take over, which requires Senate confirmation.
Without specifically acknowledging the alleged cyber attack, Trump transition spokesman Alex Pfeiffer said in a statement, “Kash Patel was a key part of the Trump administration’s first efforts against the terrorist Iranian regime and FBI Director will implement President Trump’s policies to protect America from adversaries.”
Three Iranian operatives were indicted in September. With the hacking of Trump’s presidential campaign in what the Justice Department said at the time was an attempt to undermine the US election.
The three suspects are alleged to have been employees of Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and are accused of stealing emails and documents and sharing them with the media.
The FBI and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies also confirmed at the time that Iranian hackers had sent, unsolicited, information stolen from the Trump campaign to people who had contacted President Joe Biden’s campaign over the summer. were related. Officials say there is no evidence that any of the recipients responded.