Investigation Launched Over Alleged Attempts to Falsely Portray One of Trump's Key Advisors
An ongoing investigation by law enforcement authorities is probing suspected efforts to impersonate President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. The Wall Street Journal first reported on this investigation, stating that multiple senators, governors, high-ranking U.S. executives, and other notable figures received fraudulent text messages and calls claiming to be from Wiles.
As one of Trump's closest advisors, Wiles often communicates with lawmakers seeking to reach the president. Her extensive list of influential Republican contacts makes her an attractive target for impersonation. According to a senior White House official, Wiles believes her personal phone and contact list may have been compromised, as the impersonator primarily contacted high-profile individuals on her list. Some of those who received messages were uncertain it was truly Wiles contacting them, the official added.
When some business executives, senators, and governors received messages claiming to be from Wiles, they reached out to the White House to verify her identity. This is how the White House became aware of the impersonator. The official declined to reveal the names of the people contacted by the impersonator, but confirmed that major executives, members of Congress, and governors were among the recipients.
The investigation follows an earlier FBI warning this month that hackers have been employing artificial intelligence-generated voice messages to impersonate senior U.S. government officials in an effort to gain access to online accounts. Such deceptions and subsequent account breaches could potentially lead to further targeting of other government officials and their associates and contacts, the FBI cautioned.
The White House takes the cybersecurity of its staff members seriously, and the matter is currently under investigation, a White House official told CNN. FBI Director Kash Patel also released a statement emphasizing the bureau's seriousness regarding threats against the president, his staff, and cybersecurity.
Wiles declined to comment through a spokesperson, while Trump told reporters on Friday evening he was aware of the impersonation attempts but expressed confidence that Wiles could handle the situation. "She's an amazing woman. She can handle it, but I've heard that they breached her phones or they tried to impersonate her. Nobody can impersonate Susie," Trump said.
Wiles, who is the first woman to hold the position of chief of staff, is a seasoned political operative from Florida, serving as Trump's 2024 campaign manager. Prior to assuming her role in the West Wing, Wiles expressed certain reservations and demands, including more control over who could reach the president in the Oval Office, according to CNN. During her tenure as campaign manager, Wiles ran what was considered Trump's most sophisticated and disciplined campaign, keeping fringe voices at bay. Wiles also played a significant role in helping Trump win Florida in both 2016 and 2020.
Previously, Wiles served as a top adviser to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but her tenure ended in 2019 due to escalating tensions between the two. This story has been updated following additional reporting by CNN's Hannah Rabinowitz, Kaanita Iyer, and Alejandra Jaramillo.
- The investigation into the impersonation of Susie Wiles, Trump's chief of staff, highlights the potential vulnerability of political figures to cybercrimes, especially in the era of advanced technology.
- The ongoing cybersecurity investigation involving Susie Wiles, a key figure in general-news and crime-and-justice circles, underscores the significance of technology in modern politics, with implications for both national security and public trust.
