Iran-linked hackers threaten to release Trump aides' emails

Iran-linked hackers threaten to release Trump aides' emails

By Raphael Satter WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Iran-linked hackers have threatened to disclose more emails stolen from U.S. President Donald Trump's circle, after distributing a prior batch to the media ahead of the 2024 U.S. election. In online chats with Reuters on Sunday and Monday, the hackers, who go by the pseudonym Robert, said they had roughly 100 gigabytes of emails from the accounts of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Trump lawyer Lindsey Halligan, Trump adviser Roger Stone and porn star-turned-Trump antagonist Stormy Daniels. Robert raised the possibility of selling the material but otherwise did not provide details of their plans. The hackers did not describe the content of the emails. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi described the intrusion as "an unconscionable cyber-attack." The White House and the FBI responded with a statement from FBI Director Kash Patel, who said: "Anyone associated with any kind of breach of national security will be fully investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." "This so-called cyber 'attack' is nothing more than digital propaganda, and the targets are no coincidence. This is a calculated smear campaign meant to damage President Trump and discredit honorable public servants who serve our country with distinction," cyberdefense agency CISA said in a post on X. Halligan, Stone and a representative for Daniels did not respond to requests for comment. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not return a message seeking comment. Tehran has in the past denied committing cyberespionage. Robert materialized in the final months of the 2024 presidential campaign, when they claimed to have breached the email accounts of several Trump allies, including Wiles. The hackers then distributed emails to journalists. Reuters previously authenticated some of the leaked material, including an email that appeared to document a financial arrangement between Trump and lawyers representing former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - now Trump's health secretary. Other material included Trump campaign communication about Republican office-seekers and discussion of settlement negotiations with Daniels. Although the leaked documents did garner some coverage last year, they did not fundamentally alter the presidential race, which Trump won. The U.S. Justice Department in a September 2024 indictment alleged that Iran's Revolutionary Guards ran the Robert hacking operation. In conversations with Reuters, the hackers declined to address the allegation. After Trump's election, Robert told Reuters that no more leaks were planned. As recently as May, the hackers told Reuters, "I am retired, man." But the group resumed communication after this month's 12-day air war between Israel and Iran, which was capped by U.S. bombing of Iran's nuclear sites. In messages this week, Robert said they were organizing a sale of stolen emails and wanted Reuters to "broadcast this matter." American Enterprise Institute scholar Frederick Kagan, who has written about Iranian cyberespionage, said Tehran suffered serious damage in the conflict and its spies were likely trying to retaliate in ways that did not draw more U.S. or Israeli action. "A default explanation is that everyone's been ordered to use all the asymmetric stuff that they can that's not likely to trigger a resumption of major Israeli/U.S. military activity," he said. "Leaking a bunch more emails is not likely to do that." Despite worries that Tehran could unleash digital havoc, Iran's hackers took a low profile during the conflict. U.S. cyber officials warned on Monday that American companies and critical infrastructure operators might still be in Tehran's crosshairs. (Reporting by Raphael Satter; Additional reporting by Gram Slattery and Kanjyik Ghosh; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Michael Perry)

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July 01, 2025

Iran-linked hackers threaten to release Trump aides' emails

Iran-linked hackers threaten to release Trump aides' emails By Raphael Satter WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Iran-linked hackers have threatened...

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Republican hopefuls wait for Lara Trump decision in North Carolina Senate race, sources tell CNN

Republican hopefuls wait for Lara Trump decision in North Carolina Senate race, sources tell CNN

Lara Trump, President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, is the leading potential candidate to run for Senate from North Carolina with Donald Trump's backing, multiple sources tell CNN. Sen. Thom Tillis'announcement that he won't seek reelectionnext year opens a prize opportunity for North Carolina Republicans. Multiple Trump allies looking to enter the race have begun reaching out to the president's aides, potentially seeking an endorsement that would all but lock out other challengers in a GOP primary. But Lara Trump, the former Republican National Committee co-chair and a key campaign surrogate last year, has the right of first refusal on an endorsement by her father-in-law, those sources say. Should she decide not to run, Republicans aligned with Donald Trump plan to conduct a full assessment of candidate possibilities in a race Democrats will contest as a potential opportunity to cut into the GOP's majority. "It would be great for her to run," one source who has spoken to the president about the prospect told CNN. A source familiar with Lara Trump's thinking said she's been fielding calls from Republicans encouraging her to run and is considering it. "There is a lot for her to factor into this decision, like losing time with her kids," the source said, noting that she had taken those factors into consideration when weighing running for Senate from North Carolina in 2022 and from Florida last year when then-Sen. Marco Rubio was nominated for secretary of state. Lara Trump is a native of North Carolina and a graduate of North Carolina State University. "There are a ton of conversations happening in every direction, but the reality is everything hinges on the decision Lara Trump makes," said Republican strategist and North Carolina native Doug Heye. Some other potential candidates have already begun scheduling meetings in the meantime with the White House, including Rep. Pat Harrigan. Michael Whatley, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, has also expressed interest privately about a potential Senate run, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. Whatley has a close relationship with the Trump administration and political machine after Trump endorsed the former North Carolina Republican Party Chairman to succeed Ronna McDaniel as Republican National Committee chair. Trump promoted Lara Trump for the role of co-chair of the RNC at the same time. Reps. Richard Hudson and Brad Knott are also considered contenders for a Trump endorsement. "If she declines, I was told the president will decide between Whatley, Harrigan and Knott," said one source who has closely worked with Republicans at all levels in North Carolina. Heye noted that despite her roots in the state, Lara Trump would be running her first campaign in a state Democrats see as a prime pickup opportunity. "We know she's good on TV, we know she can raise money. How will she be on the stump when she goes to New Bern? How aggressively will she be campaigning? We call them first-time candidates for a reason, because they are untested," added Heye. However, Raleigh-based Republican consultant Jonathan Felts says he's seen Lara Trump's campaign chops up close. "We looked at Lara early in 2022, in the race to replace (former Sen. Richard) Burr, and we've stayed in contact with her over the years," said Felts, who served as the senior adviser to the eventual GOP candidate and winner of that Senate seat, Ted Budd. "I think people might be surprised," he said. "She genuinely connects with grassroots audiences. People here have home-state pride in her. She'll be a legitimate candidate if she decides to run." This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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July 01, 2025

Republican hopefuls wait for Lara Trump decision in North Carolina Senate race, sources tell CNN

Republican hopefuls wait for Lara Trump decision in North Carolina Senate race, sources tell CNN Lara Trump, President Donald Trump's da...

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A megabill mystery: New solar and wind tax comes as a surprise to Republican senators

A megabill mystery: New solar and wind tax comes as a surprise to Republican senators

WASHINGTON — Tucked inside Republicans' massivedomestic policy billis an excise tax for wind and solar projects, a provision that came as a surprise not just to the renewable energy industry, but also to numerous senators who are crafting the legislation. In a twist, Republican senators insist they don't know how or why the tax was inserted into the bill they'rerushing to pass. No senator is taking credit for or defending it. And at least one wants it removed. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the Budget Committee chairman, who releasedthe 940-page bill, said he doesn't know where that provision came from. "It's a secret, I guess," Graham told NBC News on Monday evening. "I don't know where it came from." Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was baffled by the provision, saying the excise tax "just came about" like it was "airdropped" into the bill before the vote Saturday to proceed. "It wasn't part of any consideration," she said. "It's like, surprise! It's Saturday night. And we looked at it like, where did this come from?" "My view of it is — it's just entirely punitive to the wind and solar industry," Murkowski said, adding that the Republican-controlled Senate is "looking at different options" to deal with it. The provision would tax wind and solar projects if a certain share of their components come from China. It is ambiguously worded, and it would empower the Trump administration to iron out the rule. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., said she's "OK with that" when she was asked about the details of the provision. But she, too, was in the dark about who inserted it. "You can add me to the group that doesn't know the answer," Lummis said. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the former Trump adviser, torched the legislation, saying it would "destroy millions of jobs in America." "Utterly insane and destructive,"Musk saidof the bill. "It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future."He added, "A massive strategic error is being made right now to damage solar/battery that will leave America extremely vulnerable in the future." Spokespeople for the Republican chairs of the Finance Committee (Mike Crapo of Idaho), the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Mike Lee of Utah) and the Environment and Public Works Committee (Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia) didn't respond to requests for comment when they were asked whether the senators championed the provision. The White House and Republican leaders tout the bill as fulfilling President Donald Trump's promise to boost energy production in the United States, including fossil fuels. Trump also vowed to unravel clean energy incentives Democrats passed in the Biden administration. Democrats have blasted the excise tax — among other energy policies in the GOP bill — as an attempt to reward fossil fuel companies while further discouraging clean energy production. Industry groups also tore into the new excise tax. "With no warning, the Senate has proposed new language that would increase taxes on domestic energy production," said Jason Grumet, the CEO of the American Clean Power Association. "In what can only be described as 'midnight dumping,' the Senate has proposed a punitive tax hike targeting the fastest-growing sectors of our energy industry," he said in a statement. "It is astounding that the Senate would intentionally raise prices on consumers rather than encouraging economic growth and addressing the affordability crisis facing American households." Neil Bradley, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, praised the overall bill but criticized that provision,writing on Xthat "taxing energy production is never good policy, whether oil & gas or, in this case, renewables." "Electricity demand is set to see enormous growth & this tax will increase prices," he said. "It should be removed."

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July 01, 2025

A megabill mystery: New solar and wind tax comes as a surprise to Republican senators

A megabill mystery: New solar and wind tax comes as a surprise to Republican senators WASHINGTON — Tucked inside Republicans' massivedom...

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Buoyed by the Supreme Court, Trump to press forward on firings and social agenda

Buoyed by the Supreme Court, Trump to press forward on firings and social agenda

By Jeff Mason, Daniel Wiessner and Nate Raymond WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's team is moving quickly to challenge injunctions that thwarted implementation of his policies on social issues and firing federal workers after the Supreme Court limited lower courts' powers to block them. Friday's ruling was widely viewed as a victory for the president because it shifted power from the judicial to the executive branch. But Trump opponents said they still have legal options to impede his agenda. One White House official told Reuters the administration was moving immediately to go back to the lower level courts to seek changes, citing layoffs at federal agencies driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as one example of a top priority that an injunction had blocked. DOGE and government efficiency were "extremely important" to the president, the official added. Since coming into office in January, Republican Trump has sought to remake American society by enacting reductions in the federal workforce, harsher immigration rules and funding cuts to programs he does not like in both the public and private sectors. Lower courts have stymied those efforts in a number of areas by issuing nationwide injunctions to block them. The Supreme Court's ruling will largely put a stop to that practice, pleasing Trump. During a press conference at the White House on Friday, the president listed overhauling birthright citizenship, ending funding for sanctuary cities, suspending resettlement of refugees and stopping taxpayer-funded surgeries related to gender transitions as his top goals after the Supreme Court's move. "Thanks to this decision, we can now promptly file to proceed with numerous policies that have been wrongly enjoined on a nationwide basis," he said. Strategists said they expected Trump to press forward with a right-leaning social agenda, including eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs and curbing care for transgender youth. "I expect the White House to take advantage of this by being even more aggressive on the culture issues where they believe the public is strongly behind them: immigration, gender identity and DEI," said Carlos Curbelo, a Republican former U.S. congressman from Florida. OPTIONS STILL ON THE TABLE The Supreme Court on Friday granted the Trump administration's request to narrow the scope of three so-called "universal" injunctions issued by federal judges. But Democratic state attorneys general and groups challenging Trump's efforts to slash spending, ramp up deportations and restrict treatment for transgender youth said that while the decision was a disappointment, it did not bar them from obtaining any nationwide ruling. The ruling still allowed for nationwide injunctions in certain situations, including some class action cases brought on behalf of a group of people. It also allowed lower courts to strike down actions nationwide when they violate administrative law, which governs work by federal agencies. Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown predicted the decision would have minimal impact on the various rulings Democratic-led states have already won in cases challenging Trump's agenda, saying "it's only been a small handful where we've asked and received nationwide injunctions." Just hours after the Supreme Court ruled, lawyers in two different lawsuits challenging Trump's birthright citizenship order seized on that opening by seeking to have their cases treated as class actions covering children who would be denied citizenship if Trump's order took effect. Initial reactions to the Supreme Court decision reflected a widespread misunderstanding of its scope, said Norman Eisen, a lawyer involved in challenges to several Trump policies, including the elimination of birthright citizenship. "The court leaves a place for nationwide orders using other vehicles," Eisen said. Others said the decision will deter "forum shopping," in which plaintiffs file lawsuits in courts where they believe a quick win is more likely, and allow more policies to be implemented even as they are challenged in court. "Usually in these highly politicized lawsuits, someone wants relief instantly. That's no longer available," said Judd Stone, who as the solicitor general of Texas from 2021 to 2023 represented the Republican-led state in challenges to Biden administration policies. "It's a major, major paring back of universal relief." (Reporting by Jeff Mason, Daniel Wiessner and Nate RaymondEditing by Colleen Jenkins and Rosalba O'Brien)

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July 01, 2025

Buoyed by the Supreme Court, Trump to press forward on firings and social agenda

Buoyed by the Supreme Court, Trump to press forward on firings and social agenda By Jeff Mason, Daniel Wiessner and Nate Raymond WASHINGTON...

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'Lucrative' business deals help sustain Israel's Gaza campaign, UN expert says

'Lucrative' business deals help sustain Israel's Gaza campaign, UN expert says

By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -A U.N. expert has named over 60 companies, including major arms manufacturers and technology firms, in a report alleging their involvement in supporting Israeli settlements and military actions in Gaza, which she called a "genocidal campaign." Italian human rights lawyer Francesca Albanese, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, compiled the report based on over 200 submissions from states, human rights defenders, companies, and academics. The report, published late Monday, calls for companies to cease dealings with Israel and for legal accountability for executives implicated in alleged violations of international law. "While life in Gaza is being obliterated and the West Bank is under escalating assault, this report shows why Israel's genocide continues: because it is lucrative for many," Albanese wrote in the 27-page document. She accused corporate entities of being "financially bound to Israel's apartheid and militarism." Israel's mission in Geneva said the report was "legally groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of her office". The Israeli prime minister's office and the foreign office did not immediately return requests for comment. Israel has rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza, citing its right to self-defense following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. The subsequent war in Gaza has killed more than 56,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry and reduced the enclave to rubble. The report groups the companies by sector, for example military or technology, and does not always make clear if they are linked to settlements or the Gaza campaign. It said around 15 companies responded directly to Albanese's office but did not publish their replies. It names arms firms such as Lockheed Martin and Leonardo, alleging their weaponry has been used in Gaza. It also lists heavy machinery suppliers Caterpillar Inc and HD Hyundai, claiming their equipment has contributed to property destruction in Palestinian territories. Caterpillar has previously stated it expects its products to be used in line with international humanitarian law. None of the companies immediately responded to Reuters' requests for comment. Technology giants Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM were named as "central to Israel's surveillance apparatus and the ongoing Gaza destruction." Alphabet has previously defended its $1.2 billion cloud services contract with the Israeli government, stating it is not directed at military or intelligence operations. Palantir Technologies was also mentioned for providing AI tools to the Israeli military, though specifics on their use were not included. The report expands on a previous U.N. database of firms linked to Israeli settlements, last updated in June 2023, adding new companies and detailing alleged ties to the ongoing Gaza conflict. It will be presented to the 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday. Although the Council lacks legally binding powers, cases documented by U.N. investigations have occasionally informed international prosecutions. Israel and the United States disengaged from the Council earlier this year, citing bias against Israel. (Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Rachel More in Berlin, Ariane Luthi in Zurich and Olivia Le Poidevin in Geneva; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

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July 01, 2025

'Lucrative' business deals help sustain Israel's Gaza campaign, UN expert says

'Lucrative' business deals help sustain Israel's Gaza campaign, UN expert says By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -A U.N. expert ha...

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