FBI Director Kash Patel has been the target of an Iranian-linked hack, with his private emails, photos and purported resume being published online.
A Justice Department official confirmed to Reuters that his emails were compromised but did not go into detail.
The Handala Hack Team said Mr. Patel “will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims,” with the hackers bragging that the “impenetrable” systems of the FBI were “brought to their knees within hours by our team.”
The hackers said they breached his personal inbox, uploading a mix of personal and work correspondence from 2010 to 2019. They touted the public release of emails, conversations, documents and classified files.
The pictures posted to its Telegram account include Mr. Patel sniffing a cigar and posing for photos. His alleged resume has his personal email and phone number.
“Today, once again, the world witnessed the collapse of America’s so-called security legends. While the FBI proudly seized our domains and immediately announced a $10 million reward for the heads of Handala Hack members, we decided to respond to this ridiculous show in a way that will be remembered forever,” the group said Friday on its website.
“This is the security that the U.S. government boasts about?! This is the cyber giant that thinks threats and bribes can silence the voice of resistance?! To the whole world, we declare: the FBI is just a name, and behind this name, there is no real security. If your director can be compromised this easily, what do you expect from your lower-level employees?” the post continued.
The Washington Times has reached out to the DOJ and Mr. Patel via his purported email address for comment.
The hacktivist group was credited for the 2026 data breach targeting Lockheed Martin senior staff and using Microsoft Intune credentials to wipe over 200,000 devices at Stryker.
