Iran-linked Handala hackers breach FBI Director Kash Patel's personal email — DoJ confirms authentic

The Iran-linked hacker group Handala Hack Team publicly claimed on 27 March 2026 that it had breached FBI Director Kash Patel's personal Gmail inbox and published photographs and documents to the internet. A Justice Department official confirmed to Reuters that Patel's email had been breached and that the material published online 'appears authentic.' The FBI did not immediately respond to comment. Handala calls itself a group of pro-Palestinian vigilante hackers but is considered by Western researchers to be one of several personas used by Iranian government cyberintelligence units. Handala previously claimed the hack of medical devices firm Stryker (March 11), former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett, and former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. Reuters reviewed a sample showing personal and work correspondence from 2010-2019. Breaching the FBI Director's personal account during an active war with Iran represents a significant intelligence operation — any personal communications that touch on sensitive matters could be exploited for intelligence or disinformation.