FBI Director Kash Patel testifies before Congress in Washington, DC, May 8, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

The criminal hacker group known as “Robert” has claimed to the Reuters wire service that it has acquired a cache of email correspondence from both allies of President Donald Trump and one of his most notorious critics.

The Iran-backed, cyber-espionage organization had previously provided journalists with emails from the Trump campaign during the 2024 presidential contest. Now the hackers have claimed to Reuters that they possess approximately 100 gigabytes’ worth of stolen emails from accounts belonging to Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles, his lawyer Lindsey Halligan, his adamant supporter Roger Stone and Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, former porn star and alleged Trump paramour who transformed into a tell-all memoirist and courtroom accuser.

“The FBI takes all threats against the president, his staff, and our cybersecurity with the utmost seriousness,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in response to the hackers’ statements. “Safeguarding our administration officials’ ability to securely communicate to accomplish the president’s mission is a top priority. Anyone associated with any kind of breach of national security will be fully investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The hackers did not tell Reuters their plans for the emails, only hinting at a potential sale.

According to the US Department of Justice, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps oversaw the Robert group’s 2024 campaign hacking.

“This so-called cyber ‘attack’ is nothing more than digital propaganda, and the targets are no coincidence,” Marci McCarthy, director of public affairs for the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), said in a statement. “This is a calculated smear campaign meant to damage President Trump and discredit honorable public servants who serve our country with distinction. These criminals will be found and brought to justice. Let this be a warning to others, there will be no refuge, tolerance, or leniency for these actions.”

Following Trump’s choice to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran-backed hacker groups also increased targeting of American institutions, including banks, defense contractors, and oil companies. Trump said on Friday that he would consider bombing Iran again if the country continued uranium enrichment.

Also on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the possibility of future nuclear talks with the United States. “The subject of negotiations is out of the question at present,” he said.