Yet another person who has fallen foul of Iranian state-sponsored hackers is Kash Patel, a former Trump administration official, and critic of the president’s nominee to lead the FBI.
The hacking campaign began in the last few weeks and appears to be a part of a larger operation aimed at several significant personalities in the United States that are linked to the nation’s security and intelligence apparatus. Patel was Chief of Staff for the Department of Defense under President Donald Trump and one of the few persons Trump nominated for this highly coveted position. According to sources, such an attack targeted Patel’s personal and professional communications, probably revealing sensitive information.
Though it is yet unclear what details of the hack were involved, analysts feel that this breach was structured to gather information about Patel’s past engagement in high-profile national security issues. Iran has a tradition of cyber attacks against American officials, mainly those who work with security and intelligence activities as well as those in defense forces.
In a statement, Patel confirmed he had knowledge of the cyberattack but downplayed the situation, saying, “While I am aware of the hack, this will not deter me from continuing my work in public service. Our national security is too important to be undermined by foreign actors, and I remain committed to ensuring the integrity of our government.”
The attack has raised eyebrows precisely at a time when lawmakers are scrutinizing Patel’s nomination as the next FBI Director. A right-hand man to ex-President Trump, Patel’s views on counter-terrorism and national security have been as aggressive as they are against Iran and several other adversaries. Close affinity with Trump’s contentious approach toward intelligence and law enforcement in themselves has already made the appointment a divisive issue.
Sources indicate that the hack may have been performed in an attempt to discredit Patel before his potential confirmation. Critics have argued over Patel’s qualifications and his involvement with some of Trump-era decisions, among those, the dismissal of some of the key FBI officials and his role in handling intelligence regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election.
This attack forms part of a larger wave of cyberattacks targeting U.S. officials, lawmakers, and institutions, with Iran being the key player in the present cyberwar operations. Last year, U.S. agencies warned about an increase in the level of Iran’s cyber capabilities and added more sophisticated operations targeted at both government entities and the private sectors.
Questions concerning Patel’s role in the FBI will continue as the inquiry into the hack unfolds; the nomination is expected to come under severe scrutiny within the next few weeks, and this recent breach in security can only fuel the flames of oppositionists who are already against him.
For now, Patel holds firm, in public at least, committing to national security as the U.S. government amasses its forces to deal with the rising cyber threat offered by potential foreign adversaries.
