Hackers Target Trump FBI Nominee Kash Patel These communications were just hacked. Hackers believed to be backed by Iran. news site Semafor (founded by former BuzzFeed News editor Ben Eli Smith. Smith also published the Steele dossier.) Though it’s unclear how far they went, or what data they may have taken. The timing raises eyebrows. Maybe this is a good time for Patel to hit “update” on his passwords.