In a letter sent Monday, Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis pressed the FBI to explain revelations that Iranian hackers targeted Kash Patel, who is President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI director.
Tillis voiced his concerns in a letter to FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate about the implications of a security breach and the rapid dissemination of related details to the press, according to Fox News. He also criticized the leak of sensitive information about the cyberattack to media outlets.
“For an Iranian-backed group to have targeted the potential next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is extremely alarming,” Tills wrote in the letter. “Also alarming is the speed at which sensitive and potentially classified information about this attack spread to the news media.”
ERNST: “Kash Patel will create much-needed transparency at the FBI.” pic.twitter.com/xVRAJSirNe
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 9, 2024
Trump revealed in November that he’s tapped Patel as the next FBI director. Previously considered for roles like deputy director of the FBI or a senior position at the Department of Justice, Patel has been described by Trump as a “brilliant lawyer, investigator, and staunch ‘America First’ advocate.”
Last week, news broke that Patel was the focus of a hacking attempt by Iranian operatives. This report followed Patel’s notable role in the previous Trump administration, where he was actively involved in counterterrorism efforts against Iran.
Responding to the incident, Trump transition spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer said Patel is dedicated to safeguarding national security.
“Kash Patel was a key part of the first Trump administration’s efforts against the terrorist Iranian regime and will implement President Trump’s policies to protect America from adversaries as the FBI Director,” Pfeiffer told Fox News Digital.
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