Trump's legal representative allegedly fell victim to hacker attacks, according to insider reports.
CNN had previously reported an alleged hacking incident involving Iranian hackers breaching the personal email account of Donald Trump's long-time associate, Roger Stone. These hackers then used Stone's email to gain access to a senior campaign official's account.
Sources told CNN that Lindsey Halligan, a member of Trump's legal team for several years, was also a target of this Iranian hacking attempt. However, the exact timing and extent of this attempt, along with any potential breach of her devices or accounts, remain unclear as the FBI continues its investigation.
Halligan was instrumental in handling the classified documents case and was even seated in the front row during Trump's speech at the Republican convention's VIP box. She is considered a "Trump whisperer" within the team, with her colleagues describing her as someone Trump trusts profoundly and often seeks her presence during significant events.
Recently, Halligan has also attended high-level meetings at the Justice Department with other members of Trump's legal team.
Following these reports of an attempted hacking of Trump's team by Iran, Trump's campaign communications director, Steven Cheung, issued a statement to CNN, saying, "These reports of the attempted hacking of President Trump’s team by the terrorist regime in Iran come after recent disclosures of an Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump around the same time as the Butler, PA tragedy. The Iranians are petrified that President Trump will stop their reign of terror just like he did in his first four years in the White House. Any media or news outlet reprinting documents or internal communications are doing the bidding of America’s enemies and doing exactly what they want."
The FBI declined to comment on the matter.
On Monday, the FBI and other US intelligence agencies confirmed that the US government had concluded that the Iranian government was behind the hack operation targeting Trump's presidential campaign and had also attempted to target the Biden-Harris campaign.
The agencies stated that they are confident that the Iranians have used social engineering and other methods to seek access to individuals with direct access to the presidential campaigns of both political parties. Such activities, including thefts and disclosures, are intended to influence the U.S. election process.
The Iranian UN mission rejected these claims as "unsubstantiated," while the Trump campaign has been in touch with the FBI regarding the hack but questions remain about the level of cooperation between the two entities.
Despite the FBI's ongoing investigation into the Iranian hacking attempt on Lindsey Halligan, a key member of Trump's legal team, the extent and timeline of the attack remain unclear. The political implications of such an incident, if proven, could significantly impact the ongoing politics surrounding the US election.
Furthermore, the FBI and other US intelligence agencies have confirmed that the Iranian government was behind a hack operation targeting both Trump's and Biden-Harris presidential campaigns, raising concerns about foreign interference in US politics.
