Hackers tied to Iran say they broke into FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal Gmail and dumped 300+ emails, photos, and documents online Friday.
The group, calling itself the Handala Hack Team, posted casual pictures of Patel—like shots of him near cars with Cuban plates and smoking cigars—along with an older resume. U.S. officials and cybersecurity experts say Handala is linked to Iran’s intelligence services and view the hack as part of ongoing tit-for-tat cyber activity between Washington and Tehran.
Handala said the breach was payback after the FBI and Justice Department took down several of its websites last week and accused it of running Iranian “psychological operations.” The group also mocked a $10 million U.S. reward for info on its members and said Patel is now one of its high-profile targets.
The FBI confirmed Patel’s personal email was compromised but said the damage appears limited to his private Gmail, not official systems, and that steps were taken to contain it.
Analysts say the leak looks aimed at embarrassing a top U.S. official and scoring propaganda points amid broader tensions involving Iran. While not all of the material has been independently verified, sources say it matches known details about Patel.
