Authorities probe efforts to impersonate Trump’s chief of staff

A law enforcement investigation is underway into efforts to impersonate President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

A law enforcement investigation is underway into efforts to impersonate President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the investigation into efforts to impersonate Wiles, writing that “senators, governors, top U.S. business executives and other well-known figures have received text messages and phone calls from a person who claimed to be the chief of staff.” Wiles is one of Trump’s closest advisers and is often in touch with lawmakers who need to reach the president. She has a long list of influential Republican contacts. A senior White House official told CNN that the Trump administration is concerned the person hacked Wiles’ personal phone and contact list, and the official believes the imposter only contacted high-profile people on that list. Many of the people who received messages were skeptical that it was Wiles, according to the official. That led some of the business executives, senators and governors who received a message from the person claiming to be Wiles to contact the White House and attempt to verify whether it was actually the chief of staff, the official said. That is how the White House first learned of the impersonator. The official would not share specific names of those who were contacted by the impersonator, but confirmed major executives and CEOs, members of Congress and governors were among those who received messages.