Joseph Mifsud is a Maltese academic who gained international notoriety for his alleged role in the events leading to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He is known for his interactions with Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos in 2016, during which he allegedly informed Papadopoulos that Russia had 'dirt' on Hillary Clinton in the form of 'thousands of emails.' These interactions became a central focus of the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation and later the Special Counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry. Mifsud served as a professor and held various academic and diplomatic positions, including director of the London Academy of Diplomacy and president of Link Campus University in Rome. He has been described by U.S. intelligence officials as having ties to Russian intelligence, an allegation he has denied through his lawyers. Following the public disclosure of his role, Mifsud largely disappeared from public view, with his whereabouts remaining a subject of speculation and investigation. Mifsud was a key figure in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.