Former counter-intelligence Czar says it is likely that foreign intelligence services have compromised the private email server of White House senior advisor Jared Kushner.
“Jared is probably one of the top five or 10 targets in the U.S. government because of his access to the president and because of the portfolios he’s been given,” Richard Clarke told Politico.
"It’s a pretty safe bet that his personal devices have been compromised by foreign intelligence services," Clarke explained. "And therefore there is some risk that meetings he attends are compromised too.”
Kushner is one of six White House officials who are said to have used a personal email accounts to conduct official government business. The other senior advisors include Kushner's wife, Ivanka Trump, former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon, former chief of staff Reince Priebus, Director of the National Economic Council Gary Cohn and senior policy advisor Stephen Miller.
"The National Security Agency warned senior White House officials in classified briefings that improper use of personal cellphones and email could make them vulnerable to espionage by Russia, China, Iran and other adversaries," Politico reported. "The NSA briefers explained that cyberspies could be using sophisticated malware to turn the personal cellphones of White House aides into clandestine listening devices, to take photos and video without the user’s knowledge and to transfer vast amounts of data via Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth, according to one former senior U.S. intelligence official familiar with the briefings."
The briefings were so sensitive they were held in the White House Situation Room.
"If Kushner did not adhere to the security precautions, it could lead to a significant security breach, the officials said, given his access to President Donald Trump and unique portfolio of responsibilities," Politico explained. "Kushner, who is Trump’s son-in-law, is the president’s point man on China, Syria, Middle East peace, and Afghanistan, along with innovation, infrastructure and other issues."
It is possible that the use of personal email servers by senior White House advisors threatened leadership of the executive branch.
"Once a foreign intelligence service “hooks” an electronic device, it will vacuum up all of the data, including any work files, and all of their contacts. That allows cyberspies to gain access to the devices of potentially thousands of other people," Politico explained.