WASHINGTON – A hacker group allegedly linked to Iran has claimed to possess a massive trove of 100 gigabytes of emails purportedly stolen from top aides and associates of U.S. President Donald Trump, raising serious cybersecurity and national security concerns.
The group, operating under the alias “Robert,” said it may sell the data but has yet to disclose what the emails contain or how they might be used. During the 2024 campaign season, the group had already leaked limited batches of emails to journalists, fueling speculation about its capabilities and intentions.
In a recent online exchange with Reuters, “Robert” claimed the emails were obtained from several close Trump affiliates, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, attorney Lindsey Halligan, political advisor Roger Stone, and adult film actress-turned-critic Stormy Daniels.
Top U.S. officials responded swiftly. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi denounced the breach as “unconscionable,” while FBI Director Kash Patel warned that any compromise of national security would be met with the “fullest extent of the law.” The FBI and the White House have yet to confirm the authenticity or scale of the alleged data breach. Meanwhile, requests for comment from those named in the leak and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have gone unanswered. Iran’s mission to the United Nations also declined to comment.
Although Tehran has consistently denied involvement in global cyberespionage, U.S. intelligence agencies have long suspected Iranian-linked groups of orchestrating disruptive cyber campaigns. Notably, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in September 2024 for allegedly coordinating the “Robert” operation, though the group has not commented on those charges.
Read More: http://theneutral.pk/elon-musk-threatens-to-launch-new-political-party-over-trumps-spending-bill/
Among the emails already leaked, some have been independently verified, including one that allegedly outlines a financial arrangement between Trump and lawyers representing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s Health Secretary and former Democratic rival. Other disclosed content includes internal GOP campaign discussions and details about legal settlements involving Stormy Daniels.
Despite the media buzz surrounding the leaks during the 2024 election, analysts say the disclosures had limited political impact. Trump ultimately secured a second term in office.
“Robert” claimed to have “retired” in May 2024, but resurfaced in the wake of a 12-day military flare-up between Iran and Israel, which concluded with U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Since then, the group has resumed activity and told Reuters it is preparing to sell the stolen data, urging wider media coverage of its claims.
Frederick Kagan, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said the leak may represent a calculated asymmetric strategy by Iran. “Leaking emails fits within the framework of low-intensity cyberwarfare—they’re using the tools at their disposal without risking direct confrontation,” he noted.
Though Iranian cyber activity appeared subdued during the recent conflict, U.S. cyber defence agencies have now issued fresh warnings that Iranian-linked hackers could still target American infrastructure and businesses, signaling potential risks ahead.
