UK MP Urges Probe of Burnham Security Breach After Messages With Trump Aide Impersonator
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 18
UK MP Urges Probe of Burnham Security Breach After Messages With Trump Aide Impersonator
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 18
Summary
Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary asked Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee to investigate what he called an “egregious security breach” after Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with someone posing as Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles.
Burnham said the exchange involved “minimal” information of “zero consequence,” that he quickly recognized the risk and reported it, and that there was no call—only messages.
Downing Street has not said when the messages were sent, how many there were, or which platform was used, while Burnham said the “correct action” had been taken in both the UK and US.
A White House official said the incident was unrelated to the hack of Wiles’ personal phone reported last year, when impersonators used her contacts to message senior US officials.
The case adds to a pattern of UK political impersonation incidents: in 2024, then-foreign secretary Lord Cameron was hoaxed by someone posing as former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko.