#FBI director’s personal email, photos and documents leaked by #Iran-linked #hackers | US news | The Guardian theguardian.com/us-news/2026…
FBI director’s personal email, photos and documents leaked by Iran-linked hackers
The Handala Hack Team published more than 300 emails from Kash Patel’s inbox between 2010 and 2019Middle East crisis – live updates
Fri 27 Mar 2026 17.30 EDTBy Reuters
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Iran-linked hackers have broken into the personal email inbox of Kash Patel, FBI’s director, publishing photographs of him and other documents on the internet, the hackers and the bureau said on Friday.
On their website, the hacker group Handala Hack Team said Patel “will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims”. The hackers published a series of personal photographs of Patel sniffing and smoking cigars, riding in an antique convertible and making a face while taking a picture of himself in the mirror with a large bottle of rum.The FBI confirmed Patel’s emails had been targeted. In a statement, FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson said: “We have taken all necessary steps to mitigate potential risks associated with this activity,” and that the data involved was “historical in nature and involves no government information”.
Handala, which presents itself as a group of pro-Palestinian vigilante hackers, is considered by western researchers to be one of several personas used by Iranian government cyberintelligence units. Handala recently claimed the hack of Michigan-based medical devices and services provider Stryker on 11 March, saying they had deleted a big trove of company data.
Handala did not return messages. Reuters could not access its website late on Friday.— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 28, 2026
#news #today @Iran
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Today is Friday, March 27, 2026. The news is dominated by the escalating conflict with Iran, a persistent government funding crisis affecting U.S. airports, and significant updates in science and sports. [1, 2]
Top National & World Headlines
Conflict with Iran: U.S. and Israeli forces have launched major strikes against Iranian targets, including nuclear and power sites, marking a severe trade and military rupture. President Trump has extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to April 6, while Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio lead negotiations.
DHS Funding Crisis: House Republicans rejected a Senate-passed bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Amid a 40-day partial shutdown, President Trump has ordered the DHS to pay TSA officers directly to alleviate severe airport travel chaos.
Trump Signature on Currency: For the first time in 165 years, a sitting president’s signature—Donald Trump’s—will appear on U.S. paper currency.
FBI Security Breach: An Iran-linked hacking group claimed responsibility for breaching the personal email of FBI Director Kash Patel, leaking photos and documents online. [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]Science & Technology
Artemis II Moon Mission: NASA’s four Artemis II astronauts have arrived in Florida for final preparations. Their 10-day mission around the Moon is scheduled to launch in approximately one week.
Anthropic Legal Win: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from labeling AI firm Anthropic a “supply chain risk,” preventing the government from cutting off federal work with the company.
SpaceX IPO: Elon Musk is reportedly rewriting the IPO playbook by reserving a large portion of SpaceX stock for retail investors. [3, 10, 12, 13, 14]Sports & Entertainment
MLB Opening Day: The 2026 Major League Baseball season is officially underway.
March Madness: Hannah Hidalgo led Notre Dame past Vanderbilt with a 31-point triple-double, breaking the NCAA single-season steals record.
Oscars Venue Move: The Academy announced the Oscars ceremony will move from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood to the L.A. Live complex in downtown Los Angeles starting in 2029.
Chuck Norris Passes Away: Reports indicate the legendary actor and martial artist has died at the age of 86. [3, 15, 16]Other Notable News
Hawaii Helicopter Crash: Three people were killed and two injured when a tourist helicopter crashed off Kauai’s Kalalau Beach.
Savannah Guthrie Return: The Today show host announced she will return to the program in April following the abduction of her mother.
Gas Prices: National average gas prices have spiked to $3.98 per gallon, contributing to a three-month low in consumer sentiment. [9, 10, 15, 17, 18][1] journal-news.net
[2] news-gazette.com
[3] nbcnews.com
[4] aljazeera.com
[5] npr.org
[6] cnn.com
[7] thehindu.com
[8] nypost.com
[9] bbc.com
[10] reuters.com
[11] news.yahoo.com
[12] indianexpress.com
[13] cbsnews.com
[14] whbl.com
[15] washingtonpost.com
[16] ms.now
[17] news.google.com
[18] nydailynews.com— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 27, 2026
Categories
#FBI #KashPatel #Iran
#FBI #KashPatel #Iran
x.com/snlyngaas/status/20375…Sean Lyngaas (@snlyngaas)”The stolen emails appear to date from around 2011 to 2022 and appear to include personal, business and travel correspondence that Patel had with various contacts,” according to a preliminary review: cnn.com/2026/03/27/politics/…— https://x.com/snlyngaas/status/2037555139611959454— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 27, 2026
Putin urges oligarchs to fund the war after a closed-door March 26 meeting, telling them to “throw money” into the war against Ukraine.
At least two reportedly agreed.https://t.co/CW0ZclZ2Xb
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) March 27, 2026
Mueller’s Investigations: Evidence vs. Theories gemini.google.com/share/5a40…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 27, 2026
#FBI #NationalSecurity #RobertMueller
The U.S. National Security and the legacy of Robert Mueller
gemini.google.com/share/f7a1…The legacy of Robert Mueller is inextricably linked to the evolution of U.S. national security in the 21st century. His career spanned from the jungles of Vietnam to the transformation of the FBI after 9/11 and, finally, to the special counsel investigation into Russian election interference.
Following his recent passing on March 20, 2026, his impact on the American legal and security landscape has come into sharp focus as one of the most significant in modern history.
The Transformation of the FBI (2001–2013)
Robert Mueller was sworn in as FBI Director on September 4, 2001—exactly one week before the 9/11 attacks. This timing defined his 12-year tenure, the longest since J. Edgar Hoover.From “Cops” to “Spies”: Before 2001, the FBI was primarily a “reactive” law enforcement agency focused on solving crimes after they occurred. Mueller led a massive cultural and structural shift toward a “proactive” intelligence-driven organization.
Resource Reallocation: He moved roughly 2,000 agents from criminal programs to counterterrorism and tripled the number of intelligence analysts.
Technological Modernization: Despite early failures (like the “Virtual Case File” project), he eventually stabilized the Bureau’s digital infrastructure to better share data with agencies like the CIA and NSA.The Rule of Law and Civil Liberties
Mueller’s legacy is often characterized by a “by-the-book” adherence to the law, though this was not without controversy.The Hospital Standoff (2004): In a famous defense of legal protocols, Mueller and then-Deputy Attorney General James Comey threatened to resign to prevent the Bush administration from reauthorizing a warrantless domestic surveillance program without Department of Justice approval.
Civil Liberties Criticisms: Conversely, under his watch, the FBI utilized the Patriot Act to expand surveillance significantly. Critics, including the ACLU, pointed to the infiltration of mosques and the use of “national security letters” as instances where the pursuit of security may have overstepped constitutional bounds.The Special Counsel Investigation (2017–2019)
Appointed to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election, Mueller’s work as Special Counsel remains a flashpoint in American politics.Scope and Results: The investigation resulted in 37 indictments or convictions, including top Trump campaign officials like Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn. It detailed a “sweeping and systematic” effort by Russia to influence the election.
The Findings: While the report did not find a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, it pointedly stated it “does not exonerate” the President on the issue of obstruction of justice.
National Security Impact: The probe heightened awareness of “hybrid warfare”—the use of social media misinformation and hacking by foreign adversaries—which remains a primary focus of U.S. national security today.Summary of Career Milestones
PeriodRoleKey National Security Impact1968–1969Marine Corps OfficerDecorated Vietnam veteran (Bronze Star, Purple Heart).1990–1993Asst. Attorney GeneralLed prosecutions for Pan Am 103 bombing and Manuel Noriega.2001–2013FBI DirectorShifted FBI focus from domestic crime to global counterterrorism.2017–2019Special CounselExposed Russian election interference and “information warfare.”
Mueller’s legacy is that of a “institutionalist” who believed the strength of U.S. national security relied on the integrity of its institutions and the strict application of the law.
Would you like me to look into more detail on how his 2004 standoff with the White House changed U.S. surveillance policy?— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 27, 2026
The U.S. National Security and the legacy of Robert Mueller – Google Search google.com/search?q=The+U.S.…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 27, 2026
#FBI #RobertMueller #NationalSecurity
Mueller’s National Security Legacy gemini.google.com/share/24e4…— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 27, 2026
Mueller’s National Security Legacy gemini.google.com/share/24e4…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Mar 27, 2026