A pro-Iranian hacking group breached FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal Gmail account Friday, publishing photographs of Patel and a cache of files it claims came from his inbox.
The group, Handala Hack Team, announced the breach on its website. The Justice Department confirmed to Reuters that Patel’s email had been compromised. The FBI acknowledged “malicious actors targeting Director Patel’s personal email information” and said it had taken all necessary steps to mitigate potential risks. The agency characterized the stolen material as “historical in nature” with “no government information” involved.
A CNN review found the emails appear to span 2011 to 2022 — personal correspondence, business communications, and travel records. Handala published photos of a younger Patel alongside what it described as his personal resume, including his email address and phone number.
The hack was framed as retaliation. Last week, the DOJ seized four Handala-linked domains it said Iran used for psychological operations against dissidents. Patel personally announced the seizures, saying Iran could not “hide behind fake websites and keyboard threats.” Handala responded by calling the seizure “a ridiculous show” and vowing an answer “that will be remembered forever.”
This was not Patel’s first breach. In late 2024, weeks before his FBI appointment, officials informed him that Iranian hackers had accessed his personal communications as part of a broader operation targeting incoming Trump officials.
The FBI has offered $10 million for information leading to the identification of Handala members.
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