Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has called on the FBI to address reports that Iranian hackers targeted Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI director. In a letter sent Monday to FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, Tillis expressed deep concern over both the cyberattack and the swift dissemination of sensitive information to the media.
“I write to express concern about reports that Kash Patel was targeted in an Iranian-backed cyberattack. For an Iranian-backed group to have targeted the potential next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is extremely alarming. Also alarming is the speed at which sensitive and potentially classified information about this attack spread to the news media,” Senator Tillis wrote.
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Reports emerged last week alleging that Patel, a former Trump administration official, was the target of an Iranian hacking attempt. Trump transition spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer told Fox News Digital that Patel played a key role in the Trump administration’s efforts against the Iranian regime and that, as FBI director, he would continue to implement policies aimed at protecting the U.S. from adversaries.
Patel has been meeting with senators on Capitol Hill in an effort to secure support for his nomination.
In his letter, Tillis cited law enforcement sources who had apparently shared details of the hacking attempt with news outlets, raising concerns over national security and operational confidentiality.
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“NBC News specifically reported that two senior law enforcement officials confirmed information about the cyberattack to their news outlet. Two sources also relayed the information to CNN and CBS who communicated that information to British broadcaster BBC. As you know, it is imperative that the FBI and other intelligence agencies maintain confidentiality to ensure the American people are safe from enemies at home and abroad,” Senator Tillis concluded.
Tillis posed several questions to Abbate, including whether FBI employees had shared information about the cyberattack with the media or third parties that may have leaked it.
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The FBI confirmed receipt of Tillis’s letter but declined to provide further comment.
As Patel continues to meet with senators ahead of Trump’s January inauguration, his nomination remains under scrutiny, with concerns over the cyberattack adding another layer of complexity to the confirmation process.
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