All articles tagged with #kash patel
FBI announces the arrest of Courtney Williams, a former Delta Force civilian who allegedly shared classified information with a reporter after extensive interviews for a book; the move comes amid Trump’s vows to jail sources who leak information, underscoring a broader clash over press freedom and national security reporting.
Three FBI agents fired last fall are suing in federal court, alleging their terminations were politically motivated retaliation tied to investigations into Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The class-action seeks reinstatement and could extend to dozens more agents, naming FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi as defendants, and contends due process was violated and political bias influenced removals amid a broader personnel purge. The agencies declined to comment.
Lawyers for Rep. Eric Swalwell sent a cease-and-desist letter to FBI Director Kash Patel asking the bureau to stop releasing decade-old files involving Swalwell’s alleged ties to a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, in response to a Washington Post report that Patel planned to publish the materials.
Eric Swalwell lands a major labor endorsement (CTA) for his California gubernatorial bid, giving him a key boost in a divided field. The weekend also spotlighted a Washington Post report that Kash Patel is pushing to release a decade-old FBI file related to Swalwell’s ties to a suspected Chinese operative, a move Swalwell says could be used to influence the race. He leans into the Trump confrontation as a defining contrast, even as Democratic voters remain split about the primary lineup.
Kash Patel reportedly pressed the FBI to surface and redact decades‑old files on Rep. Eric Swalwell and a linked Chinese agent, Christine Fang, as part of an effort to build a criminal case against Swalwell. The plan allegedly included sending agents to China or arranging a visa for Fang for intel, but insiders warned such steps could compromise sources; Swalwell rebuts the claims, and a FBI spokesman says the Post’s reporting is incorrect. The piece also notes California’s governor race dynamics, where GOP frontrunners Hilton and Bianco lead polls amid Democratic disarray as Swalwell contemplates a bid.
FBI officials express alarm as Director Kash Patel pushes to publicly post a decade-old file linking Rep. Eric Swalwell to a suspected Chinese operative, despite no public evidence of wrongdoing; agents are redacting the records prior to release, raising concerns about sources, methods, and political implications.
An Iran‑linked hacker group called Handala claims it breached Kash Patel’s personal Gmail, exposing years of his emails; a Justice Department official confirmed the breach but there’s no evidence Patel’s FBI/DOJ accounts were compromised, casting doubt on Handala’s claim of hacking the FBI. The WIRED security roundup also notes Apple’s Lockdown Mode remains effective against spyware, Russia’s move to mandate a homegrown 5G encryption (NEA-7), and California’s data‑broker registry showing 33 brokers selling residents’ data to foreign adversaries.
The FBI confirmed hackers targeted Director Kash Patel's personal email; the Iran-linked Handala group claimed to have stolen documents, but the agency said the information involved is historical and contains no government data, and it will pursue the attackers.
Pro‑Iranian group Handala published more than 300 emails and photos from Kash Patel’s personal Gmail, mostly dating from 2010–2012 with some items from 2022, claiming retaliation after FBI/DOJ actions against Iranian hacking operations. NBC News could not verify all emails; the material includes Patel’s family correspondence and a Cuba trip, with metadata indicating the breach predates his government work. The FBI says the information is historical and contains no government information. The incident occurs amid broader Iranian cyber activity targeting U.S. figures, with the State Department offering up to $10 million for information on Iranian hackers.
Iran-linked hackers accessed FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal emails, publishing photos and documents dating from 2011–2022. Experts say it was Patel’s private accounts hit, not a direct FBI systems breach, a view supported by Reuters’ reporting. U.S. intelligence has warned of Tehran retaliation for Iran‑related strikes, and the Justice Department says the group operates for Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security. Patel had been targeted in a 2024 incident, and the same group has been tied to a separate cyberattack on a major US medical device maker earlier this month, underscoring ongoing personal‑account risk for senior officials.
Reuters reports that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team obtained two grand jury subpoenas and nondisclosure orders related to Kash Patel (now FBI director) that extended beyond phone records to include mailing and email addresses, billing and IP data, and banking information, covering 2020–2023 in a probe tied to Trump’s 2020 election interference and the Mar-a-Lago classified-documents matter; the exact scope and allegations remain unclear, with Democrats defending Smith and the FBI noting past leadership’s actions were criticized.
TPM reports that FBI Director Kash Patel announced a UFC-hosted training seminar for FBI personnel at Quantico, but questions remain about who will pay and whether the arrangement complies with procurement and ethics rules, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the appearance of a government endorsement.
UFC fighters will travel to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, to train FBI agents and students in a historic seminar—sharing how they train for competition and demonstrating techniques—with participants including Justin Gaethje, Jorge Masvidal, Chris Weidman, Claudia Gadelha, Michael Chandler, Manel Kape and Renzo Gracie, in an event described by FBI director Kash Patel as boosting agents’ readiness.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced a two-day seminar at the FBI Academy in Quantico where UFC fighters will train FBI agents, calling it a historic opportunity to learn training methods and fighting techniques from top mixed martial artists; fighters taking part include Justin Gaethje, Jorge Masvidal, Chris Weidman, Claudia Gadelha, Michael Chandler, Manel Kape and Renzo Gracie, with dates set for March 15–16.
Trump reportedly admonished FBI Director Kash Patel for a boozy locker-room celebration after the U.S. men’s hockey team’s gold in Milan and for using a taxpayer-funded plane to travel to Italy, with the White House declining to comment; Patel’s high-profile jet use has drawn scrutiny and sparked debate among former FBI/DOJ officials and critics while Patel remains a prominent, camera-ready figure in Trump circles.