Key Background
The individual or individuals who posed as Wiles last year reached out to high-powered figures via text messages and phone calls using an AI generation of Wiles’ voice, according to multiple reports. Their motive at the time was unclear, but occasionally the impersonator would request money, and in another incident, asked a lawmaker to produce a list of people President Donald Trump could pardon, according to the Wall Street Journal, which was the first to report on the incident last year.
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Tangent
Hackers linked to Iran, using the pseudonym “Robert,” stole emails from Wiles and other figures in Trump’s orbit, including Stormy Daniels and Roger Stone, just before the 2024 election in what federal law enforcement described at the time as a cyber-attack. Some of the emails, which included details about settlement negotiations with Daniels and communication about other Republicans running for election, were distributed to journalists. The hackers communicated directly with news outlets. After the 2024 election, “Robert” told Reuters, “I am retired, man,” but contacted the news outlet again after the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in June last year, alleging it had more stolen emails to distribute.
further reading
Burnham exchanged messages with impersonator of top Trump aide (Politico)
Federal Authorities Probe Effort to Impersonate White House Chief of Staff (Forbes)
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FBI investigating attempts to impersonate White House chief of staff Susie Wiles (ABC)
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