ON 28 March 2026, Iran-linked group Handala claimed it breached FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal Gmail account and shared alleged data, including photos and files. The FBI confirmed it is aware of the incident and has taken steps to mitigate risks, stressing that the exposed material is old and does not involve any government or classified information. According to FBI, the information in question is historical in nature and involves no government information.
The claim and the response were reported by DataBreaches[.]Net, with observers noting that Handala’s disclosures pertain to Patel’s personal email rather than his official duties. The FBI statement characterised the activity as targeted at Patel’s personal email information, and the agency pledged to mitigate potential risks. Security researchers and media coverage have framed the incident as a breach involving a personal account rather than a state or highly sensitive data exposure.