Federal investigators are probing a bizarre and potentially serious case involving an unknown individual who attempted to impersonate White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, prominent Republican officials and business executives received phone calls and text messages from someone claiming to be Wiles in recent weeks.
The impersonator allegedly used phone numbers not associated with Wiles and communicated in a tone that recipients found uncharacteristic. Some messages included strange requests, such as compiling names for potential presidential pardons or transferring funds—raising immediate red flags among the recipients.
In several instances, the voice on the other end of the line closely resembled Wiles’, leading federal authorities to investigate whether voice-cloning technologies powered by artificial intelligence may have been involved.
The Wall Street Journal noted that investigators believe the individual may have gained access to contact information from Wiles’s personal phone, which may have been compromised. Although there is currently no indication of involvement by foreign state actors, the FBI and other intelligence agencies are treating the incident as a serious breach and are working to identify the person behind it.
Susie Wiles has since informed her contacts about the impersonation and warned them to disregard suspicious messages. She also confirmed that the matter is now in the hands of federal law enforcement.
This is not the first time Wiles has faced digital threats. During the 2024 campaign season, her email account was reportedly targeted by Iranian hackers, underscoring ongoing concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities among top political figures.
