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Ex-CIA Employee Charged In Major Leak of Agency Hacking Tools (washingtonpost.com)

schwit1 shares a report from The Washington Post: Federal prosecutors on Monday charged a former CIA employee with violations of the Espionage Act (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternative source) and related crimes in connection with the leak last year of a collection of hacking tools that the agency used for spy operations overseas.

Joshua Adam Schulte, who worked for a CIA group that designs computer code to spy on foreign adversaries, was charged in a 13-count superseding indictment with illegally gathering and transmitting national defense information and other related counts in connection with what is considered to be one of the most significant leaks in CIA history. The indictment accused Schulte of causing sensitive information to be transmitted to an organization, which is not named in the indictment but is thought to be WikiLeaks.

136 comments

  1. And just to be sure by quenda · · Score: 4, Insightful

    they "found" some kiddie-porn oh his computer.
    The message is clear: don't fuck with the CIA.

    He is lucky he did not end up like Michael Hastings. yet.

    1. Re: And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How do you know it wasn't Wikileaks that used those tools on him?

    2. Re:And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      they "found" some kiddie-porn oh his computer.
      The message is clear: don't fuck with the CIA.

      He is lucky he did not end up like Michael Hastings. yet.

      Careful. The current US Government is largely comprised of people who have no problem waterbarding and torturing people. I'm still waiting for the day HRC is force fed to stay alive and I don't mean out of old age. It's one of many methods documented in the released CIA "handbook on torture" - and authorized by NATO countries including Canada.

      What I want to know though is why this is even public and what in the hell is releasing his name going to accomplish? According the the article he has been charged, not found guilty. That court may be a kangaroo circus but it's a court.

      This is more a shot at anyone working in the CIA, you mean nothing. Whatever movie you think you're part of is a lie.

    3. Re:And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "waterbarding"?

      Do they pour water on your head while they read you Shakespeare?

      Never heard of this before, but it could be sheer torture, depending on which works they read.

    4. Re:And just to be sure by vossman77 · · Score: 1

      they "found" some kiddie-porn oh his computer.

      from the article:

      His personal computer [..] held more than 10,000 images and videos of such material, protected under three layers of passwords.

      maybe they planted it in some conspiracy, but the quote seems so specific that Schulte must have known it was there and was hiding it.

    5. Re:And just to be sure by king+neckbeard · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You are operating under the assumption that it couldn't have been planted encrypted. That three layers of protection were breached would support that hypothesis.

      --
      This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
    6. Re: And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      to what benefit?

      no - i'd expect the child porn charges are character assassination attempts to demonise the guy so that he doesn't become a folk hero like Snowden, Manning and Assange.

    7. Re:And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So - you think an NSA employee would be aware that we have zero chance of keeping anything private on computers these days and doing this sort of thing would inevitably be found. smells fishy to me.

    8. Re:And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "His personal computer [..] held more than 10,000 images and videos of such material, protected under three layers of passwords."

      maybe they planted it in some conspiracy, but the quote seems so specific that Schulte must have known it was there and was hiding it.

      In a war between the people who have the super secret hacking tools, and the guy who released the super secret hacking tools .. how do you tell who is lying?

      By default I assume the CIA lies a lot. But, by the same token, there's a lot of fucked up people out there and this guy might have had a huge stash of kiddie porn.

      But, since I assume the penalties for what he's alleged to have done is some pretty serious Federal time, this guy should be in pretty deep shit. Because they're going to bring a lot of might against him at this point.

    9. Re:And just to be sure by gnick · · Score: 1

      That three layers of protection were breached would support that hypothesis.

      All three layers used the same password he used for Netflix. At least that's what I'm assuming.

      Seems like somebody competent could encrypt their stash with one password and make the cracking time essentially infinite. What went wrong here? The Time article doesn't mention any protection.

      --
      He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
    10. Re:And just to be sure by gnick · · Score: 2

      it could be sheer torture, depending on which works they read.

      His biggest success was "A Bard's Tale." WAY ahead of its time.

      --
      He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
    11. Re:And just to be sure by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Funny

      The 3 layers were

      - BIOS password
      - Windows login
      - ROT-13 encrypted cp_evidence.zip file

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    12. Re:And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It would appear Hastings had become a member of the tin-hat brigade prior to his death. Even his wife and friends believed he was overly paranoid and his death was little more than a tragic accident.

      Of course, you'll never convince a conspiracy theorist of anything, but there are the facts.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hastings_(journalist)#Controversy_over_alleged_foul_play

    13. Re:And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      His biggest success is in convincing the world to celebrate an illiterate as a "writer".

    14. Re: And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Theyâ(TM)re folk heroes?

    15. Re: And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This.

    16. Re:And just to be sure by quenda · · Score: 1

      Probably true. But sadly given the history of the CIA we can never be quite sure.
      The exploding cigars for Castro story sounds hard to believe too.

    17. Re: And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Assange and his organization are the last credible and uncowed journalists left on the planet, for which crime he's treated like a Bond villain by the world's biggest governments and will probably be summarily assassinated at some point (arguably he's in the process of being assassinated via prolonged physical and mental torture right now). If anyone on the planet deserves 'folk hero' status, it's him.

      Snowden's a whistleblower and hero, but not on Assange's level clearly.

      Manning was a nutcase who thought he could unilaterally stop all war forever by revealing evidence of shit everyone pretty much already suspected. Then he chopped his dick off, ran for senate, and tried to kill himself because no one wanted to vote for him.

    18. Re: And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The correct term is: hir

    19. Re:And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I haven't seen anyone deny that charge, though.

    20. Re:And just to be sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      sad, but almost certainly true. And given government accounting it could even be:

      layer one: BIOS password (unset)
      layer two: full disk encryption (unused)
      layer three: OS login (bypassed by simply looking at file system)

  2. Re:Bazinga! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are you an obese virgin North American IT Sasquatch by any chance?

  3. old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this news is old already

    1. Re:old news by wardrich86 · · Score: 1

      Meh, I appreciate it... I only usually read Slashdot like once a day, so this was still new news to me. I haven't skimmed Reddit much yet today.

  4. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  5. Re:Bazinga! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nooo obvious he is Bangladesh H1B stud, want make sex?

  6. Article Text by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Federal prosecutors charged a former CIA employee Monday with violations of the Espionage Act and related crimes in connection with the leak last year of a collection of hacking tools that the agency used for spy operations overseas.

    Joshua Adam Schulte, who worked for a CIA group that designs computer code to spy on foreign adversaries, was charged in a 13-count superseding indictment with illegally gathering and transmitting national defense information and related counts in connection with what is considered to be one of the most significant leaks in CIA history.

    The indictment accused Schulte of causing sensitive information to be transmitted to an organization that is not named in the indictment but is thought to be WikiLeaks.

    WikiLeaks posted the hacking tools online last year in a release it called “Vault 7.” Prosecutors alleged Schulte stole the information in 2016.

    Schulte had long been a suspect of investigators exploring the leak, but before Monday, he had been held on separate child pornography charges. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Cockman said in a statement that investigators looking into Schulte found the pornography in his residence. His personal computer, federal prosecutors alleged, held more than 10,000 images and videos of such material, protected under three layers of passwords.

    Schulte was arrested on charges stemming from the porn in August 2017.

    “As alleged, Schulte utterly betrayed this nation and downright violated his victims,” William F. Cockring Jr., the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York troll office, said in a statement. “As an employee of the CIA, Schulte took an oath to protect this country, but he blatantly endangered it by the transmission of Classified Information. To further endanger those around him, Schulte allegedly received, possessed, and transmitted thousands of child pornographic photos and videos.”

    An attorney for Schulte did not respond to an email seeking comment Monday night. In a statement reviewed by The Washington Post previously, Schulte claimed that he reported “incompetent management and bureaucracy” at the CIA to the agency’s inspector general and to a congressional oversight committee. He asserted that cast him as disgruntled and that when he left the CIA, he became a suspect in the leak as “the only one to have recently departed [the CIA engineering group] on poor terms.”

    The indictment accuses Schulte, 29, of exceeding his authorized access to CIA computer systems and altering systems to delete records of his activities and deny others access. Added together, the charges against him carry a statutory maximum penalty of 135 years in prison. Some officials have compared the leak of which he is accused to that of former National Security Agency contractor Edward Blowden, who also revealed details about U.S. capabilities to spy on computers and phones around the world.

    Schulte worked in the CIA’s Engineering Development Group, according to people with knowledge of his employment history as well as the group’s role in developing cyberweapons. He left the intelligence community in 2016 and took a job in the private sector, according to a statement he wrote that was reviewed by The Post.

    The evidence that prosecutors have connecting Schulte to the leak of information was not immediately clear. The WikiLeaks organization noted his indictment on Twitter, adding, “Perhaps reflecting weakness of CIA case, also charged for ‘criminal copyright infringement’ for sharing TV shows, child porn & lying to FBI.”

    1. Re: Article Text by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Reported for copyright infringement.

    2. Re:Article Text by Narcocide · · Score: 1

      clever

    3. Re:Article Text by phantomfive · · Score: 2

      Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Cockman said in a statement that investigators looking into Schulte found the pornography in his residence. His personal computer, federal prosecutors alleged, held more than 10,000 images and videos of such material, protected under three layers of passwords.

      Amazing how easily they were able to break through three layers of encryption. Did they use quantum computing?

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    4. Re:Article Text by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, they used interrogation and threats. Not need to bring out the big guns.

    5. Re:Article Text by king+neckbeard · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Or, even simpler, they planted it there in the first place, and already knew the passwords.

      --
      This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
    6. Re:Article Text by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      /Oblg. xckd 538

    7. Re:Article Text by Mashiki · · Score: 1

      Or even simpler, the encryption was compromised and they never upgraded.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    8. Re:Article Text by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    9. Re:Article Text by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Well shit... now what am I supposed to do with this ? (crumples up tin foil hat into a little ball)

    10. Re:Article Text by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      who said it was easily?

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    11. Re:Article Text by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You need quantum tinfoil

    12. Re:Article Text by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      William F. Cockring Jr.? Fucking serously?

  7. Just Wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...it will be revealed that he wants to transition to a woman.

    Why is it most spies are secretly cross dressers?

    1. Re:Just Wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      They learned from J. Edgar Hoover

    2. Re:Just Wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Larger disguise base rather than being stuck with one gender's clothing options.

    3. Re:Just Wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They like to go deep under cover.

    4. Re: Just Wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Little known fact: the J stood for Jessica and his largely successful struggle to keep this secret was responsible for many broken laws, promises and noses.

  8. Re:Bazinga! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You shouldn't be dissing I.T. closet cleaners. They often volunteer to do jobs that everyone else spent years avoiding.

  9. Re:But her emails! by oh_my_080980980 · · Score: 0

    And yet Hillary Clinton is the only one who violated federal law (the Espionage Act)....

  10. Re: But her emails! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Will James Comey say there wasn't intent?

    Depends. Does he have evidence to that effect?

    Despite the law saying no intent is needed to commit a felony?

    Laws don't override a jury refusing to convict because the prosecutor pretends intent doesn't matter, or because the jury sees the massive amount of non-prosecuted offenses that discredits the whole charade, or just realizes that the rancor involved harms their own integrity.

  11. Except if you're Hillary Clinton by oh_my_080980980 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    "In a release, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said unlawful disclosure of classified intelligence “can pose a grave threat to our national security, potentially endangering the safety of all Americans.”

    "William F. Sweeney Jr., head of the New York FBI office, said Schulte “utterly betrayed this nation and downright violated his victims. As an employee of the CIA, Schulte took an oath to protect this country, but he blatantly endangered it by the transmission of classified Information.”

    Classified information on her personal email servers in violation of the Espionage Act (no children intent is not required).

    And according to the recent FBI report, her servers were hacked and the classified information was accessed by a foreign entity.

    Not too mention Clinton did not have approval from the State Department to use a personal server.

    1. Re:Except if you're Hillary Clinton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yea, two different "crimes" here, both felonies.. But give it a rest. She's never going to be charged, certainly not prosecuted, unlikely to be convicted and would barely get a slap on her wrists. It's not worth the trouble or the pissing off half the country to see that. Just let it go.

      Console yourself with the fact that Hillary will never be president and that she only has herself to blame for it. I know she's been all over the world trying to blame anybody but herself, but had she not done this private server thing, she'd likely be president today. This little "side issue" wasn't worth but a few percentage points in votes, but when the margins are as thin as they turned out to be, this unforced error cost her the game. I call that fitting, other's call it karma.

    2. Re:Except if you're Hillary Clinton by phantomfive · · Score: 0

      I know she's been all over the world trying to blame anybody but herself, but had she not done this private server thing, she'd likely be president today.

      Hard to say, right? Who knows what were in the emails she deleted?

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    3. Re:Except if you're Hillary Clinton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But her emails

    4. Re:Except if you're Hillary Clinton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If only the media did as good a job showing to people that Hillary is a criminal that needs the book thrown at her, as they are about Trump being whatever their latest issue is.

    5. Re:Except if you're Hillary Clinton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For the love of God, just stop.

    6. Re:Except if you're Hillary Clinton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If only the media did as good a job showing to people that Hillary is a criminal that needs the book thrown at her, as they are about Trump being whatever their latest issue is.

      I'm with you about the media, but realistically the "lock her up" ship has sailed now that she lost the election. It's just not worth the trouble to lock cankles up... Forget trying to change the media, engage them with contempt for their bias, but don't expect them to change.

      She's in a self destructive cycle of drinking, has some kind of illness that keeps her stumbling down stairs and doesn't have a chance in hell of ever running for office again. Seriously, she lost to TRUMP for Pete's sake. That's got to hurt every time she is asked about it or happens to think about it. It's no wonder she's pouring down wine by the bottle, she's trying to forget, trying to live with herself (and Bill the philanderer) in her own little hell. Let her stay where she is on the sidelines, getting drunk and going hoarse yelling at the referees, I figure jail would only serve to give her and her supporters focus and make her more dangerous. She's irrelevant now, let her stay that way.

    7. Re:Except if you're Hillary Clinton by mesterha · · Score: 1

      I didn't realize the origins of whataboutism . I guess it's a fitting technique for Trump supports.

      --

      Chris Mesterharm
    8. Re:Except if you're Hillary Clinton by MaryannG · · Score: 2

      If I had moderator points today I'd upvote this comment.

      The sad and sorry truth is that if the Trump AG did the right thing (and whether you like or loathe either Hillary or Trump, it IS the right thing) and brought charges against Hillary it would be seen as solely a political move. The person who needed to act was Obama's AG at the time. Unfortunately for all of us (Americans) that person did nothing and that decision was solely motivated by opinion polls and politics. Americans increasingly don't have faith in their own government and it's because of things like this. The law is the law and while J Edgar was a cross dressing power monger, he also didn't much allow the law to slide on stuff like this. As a country we have slid so far into the morass that we now take into account a person's politics (and, if on the left, their particular identity pigeonhole) before we decide to apply the laws that we're all supposed to abide by. We bitch and moan about how our politicians don't represent us anymore...and yet half of us are fine with not charging Hillary because she is a Democrat and a woman.

      But yeah, if this did indeed shave a few thousand votes off her totals in places where it mattered that IS karma...because the only just alternative is that she stand trial after winning the election...and then we'd have our first sitting president convicted of a federal felony and forceably removed from office...because you know damn well she'd never go the Nixon route and resign.

      --
      Social Media Handywoman at Texas Boys Balloo
    9. Re:Except if you're Hillary Clinton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously, you Trump QAnon people need to stop obsessing about Hillary's emails. You'll feel better for it. I promise.

    10. Re:Except if you're Hillary Clinton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That means you'll stop obsessing over non-existent Russian collusion, right?

    11. Re:Except if you're Hillary Clinton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That means you'll stop obsessing over non-existent Russian collusion, right?

      If only they would... but alas, it makes too good of a story. The press makes money on it and I think Trump enjoys the controversy too. Go figure.

      Personally, I think it would be great to just let everything before January 2017, Hillary and her E-mail and Trump and his Campaign just go away. We'd all be better off, both the left and the right. But that's just wishful thinking. The partisan drum beats of war won't fall silent any time soon...

  12. Re:But her emails! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please give it a rest.... Where I don't disagree with you, this "lock her up" ship has sailed. In fact, it was clear to me that although she (and her aids) ran roughshod over a number of federal statutes, there wouldn't be any charges filed. There is no point, only partisan ideology, and no good outcome that wouldn't anger half the country.

    Console yourself with this fact, she will never be president, come what may, and this is a direct result of her illegal activities. That is a pretty steep price for her and Bill. I'm content with that...

  13. Re:But her emails! by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

    And Snowden? Manning? Winner?

    --
    It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
  14. Alternate headline: ... by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

    ...

    CIA Fails To Guard The Gate. Again.

    --
    It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
    1. Re:Alternate headline: ... by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      Actually, it is hard to stop and/or locate treason of this nature. That is why we USED to make it a big deal to vet everybody. BUT reagan and Clinton moved vetting away from FBI over to private companies who are total jokes. We really need to move vetting back to FBI and increase our efforts on security. We are losing to China and Russia in a HUGE way.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    2. Re:Alternate headline: ... by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

      Bullshit all the way down.

      "Treason," is not the word you're looking for.

      It has two components that do not apply:

      1.) No United States citizen has declared war on the United States.

      The last time that happened was the Civil War.

      2.) The United States has no list of enemies.

      The last time that happened was WWII.

      *The United States has, at times, considered a list of enemies, but the idea fell through because of the complications that arise in that it would nullify many treaties that the United States has with other countries.

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
    3. Re: Alternate headline: ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Me thinks you need to upgrade your dictionary.

    4. Re: Alternate headline: ... by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

      OK.

      How's this?

      U.S. Constitution

      Article III

      Section 3.

      Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

      The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted.

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
    5. Re: Alternate headline: ... by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      By giving up our secrets like that, he DID levy war on America.

      Next you will say that he did not levy war, BECAUSE:
      The assembling of a body of men for the purpose of effecting by force a treasonable object; and all who perform any part however minute, or however remote from the scene of action, and who are leagued in the general conspiracy, are considered as engaged in levying war, within the meaning of the constitution.
      BUT, Wikileaks is ran by an Australian and others, combined with Russia, who DO want to see America's downfall.That is war. Putin, like CHinese leaders, is in a cold war with the west, but esp. America. Turning over secrets to these nations IS treason.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    6. Re: Alternate headline: ... by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

      You don't get to define war as some indefinite shit you want to push.

      For America, it's the Constitution all the way down.

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
  15. Re: Bazinga! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    pls show bobs and vagene sexi

  16. Actually no, Republican lying faggot. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    HRC committed violations but she was NOT the only one, found prosecutors, and so could not be prosecuted under the 10th Amendment. (Lying faggot oh_my)

  17. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 0

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  18. Backdoor time! by Toxiz · · Score: 1

    Good thing this will never happen. Let's get those encryption back doors into the hands of the CIA.

  19. Re:Bazinga! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    want make sex?

    Would you like some making fuck? Berzerker!

  20. Re:Bazinga! by wardrich86 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Username checks out!

  21. Re:But her emails! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    sorry but what is the statute of limitations in your country?

    ie - the one that applies to normal people - not servants of the elite who can provide arms, intelligence, coordination and support of terrorists while pursuing their regime change stupidity.

  22. Re:Bazinga! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Jesus didn't tell me anything about gluttony, so it's OK!

    Seven deadly sins. God punished you for not paying attention to Jesus. My condolences.

  23. This is the guy... by Vintermann · · Score: 2

    This is the guy who wrote on twitter that Manning should be shot. On the face of it, it seems strange that he should turn around and do exactly the same as Manning a few years later.

    Though, for the CIA, it probably doesn't matter much if he didn't do it, as long as the public can be convinced he did it - and that he's a pedophile to boot.

    --
    xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
    1. Re:This is the guy... by GrimSavant · · Score: 2

      Not that surprising if you take it from the standpoint of the idiom "the guilty dog barks the loudest". If he had a guilty conscience he could understandably react by overcompensating in attacking others reflecting that, whether or not he is consciously trying to divert attention from his own guilt. He wouldn't be the first person to do that.

    2. Re:This is the guy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A whole lot like the Trumpers accusing their political opponents of committing the sorts of crimes that, as it's now coming to light, they were themselves committing at the time!

  24. Lock Him Up! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Comey was using personal email for FBI business (for convenience and to get around IT issues like Clinton) when he rat-fucked our election with that phoney "but her emails" nonsense.

    It's even worse when you realize that the FBI had already caught Moscow Donald committing treason, colluding with Russia's attack on America.

    Now that Trump has surrendered to North Korea on behalf of his puppet master Vladimir Putin we see the end game of this treason.

    On the plus side, Trump's Russian agent campaign manager is locked up in prison as we speak, so there is a little bit of hope despite the rat-fuckers and traitors.

  25. Re:But her emails! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I realize I am just feeding a troll, but if you really believe that, you really are an idiot.

    It is not an emolument for someone to stay in a hotel that Trump happens to own. Presidents are allowed to own businesses and stock and property and other things that might be accretive to their net worth.

    It is also not illegal to collude with a foreign government. In fact, it is the President's FUCKING JOB to collude with foreign governments, on many many things, from trade to aid to research to defense.

    The far-left whackos who insist there was some conspiracy are just that: far-left whackos.

    Prior to entering office, it is illegal. Prior to the election, if such collusion is to swing the election in your or your candidate's favor...even more illegal.

    Lying about it to the FBI or other entity able to take sworn statements or testimony? Even a bigger issue. As everyone in DC with half a brain knows, the coverup is usually what gets you in trouble.

  26. Re:But her emails! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump's campaign manager is in prison for being an unregistered foreign agent, and conspiracy against the United States, so you tell me if it's legal to treasonously collude with a foreign government's attack on your own country...

  27. Treason by enderwiggin7 · · Score: 1

    Is this treason, a capital crime?

    1. Re:Treason by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      nope. No more. It has to be aiding/abetting the enemy. Similar, but not the same. If this guy really did it, and they have DECENT HONEST PROOF, then hopefully, they will hit him up with Aid/abett. I will say though that previous poster says that he wanted manning executed for treason. If that is true, then I really want to see hard proof as in 100% certainty.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    2. Re:Treason by crimson+tsunami · · Score: 1

      What would you know about decent or honest or proof?

    3. Re:Treason by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      I know that you, posting as red tide, porky, AC, etc is absolutely neither decent nor honest. ANd the proof is all of your postings.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    4. Re:Treason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You don't even understand what treason is sill old man.

  28. Re:He's obviously not a Democrat by WindBourne · · Score: 0

    Well, he is a pedophile and a traitor, so obviously he was GOP. reagan, W, Trump, Snowden, etc. all GOP. Manning was the only dem of recent times that was a traitor and most pedophiles ARE registered GOP.
    However, the IG reported that everything was kosher with the Hillary investigation, other than 2 FBI agents having an affair and speaking ill of a presidential candidate on company time/email. OTOH, the investigation of the NY FBI is still ongoing. It looks likely that charges will be brought up against those GOP FBI agents.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  29. mod parent up by WindBourne · · Score: 1

    hmmm. If he is one of many that said that about manning, it is odd.
    Personally, I agree with trying and then shooting manning for treason. But I find it interesting that he would turn against America. Very weird.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  30. Re:But her emails! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it was clear to me that although she (and her aids) ran roughshod over a number of federal statutes, there wouldn't be any charges filed. There is no point, only partisan ideology, and no good outcome that wouldn't anger half the country.

    Just like charging an elderly cop for serial murder he committed when on the force has no point. Oh, wait, part of the point is to prove to others trying the same %&^$ that there are consequences for bad actions. Punishment as deterrent. Justice.

  31. Re: Bazinga! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought they were the people who spent years avoiding jobs

  32. Re:But her emails! by terrycarlino · · Score: 1

    So trying to win an election is illegal?

    But its ok to tell the ambassador of a foreign nation that you'll have more flexibility to deal with them after the election?

    Well actually it is. It's not illegal because you're suppose to talk to foreign ambassadors.

    You know who else is suppose to talk to representatives of other countries? Members of a president elects staff. They can't set policy yet, but they are allowed to set up relationships for when they can.

    You know what else is allowed. The FBI to lie to people and charge them with lying to the FBI, a felony, when they mis-remeber a date or actual fact, when you are not swore in or otherwise required to tell the truth.

    Which is why you should never talk to the FBI without an attorney present and when talking to the FBI you should never state a fact, merely acknowledge a possible memory, that might be flawed or state you don't remember at all.

    Obviously you are also allowed to create fake evidence and take it to a FISA court and lie to get wiretap permission, And it's allowed to plant government informants on opposition candidates too.

  33. Re:But her emails! by Sarten-X · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I realize I am just feeding a troll, but if you really believe that, you really are an idiot.

    Well, I can say the same thing, I suppose. Either way, here we go...

    It is not an emolument for someone to stay in a hotel that Trump happens to own. Presidents are allowed to own businesses and stock and property and other things that might be accretive to their net worth.

    That is true, but that's not what's causing complaints. Previous Presidents have taken steps to ensure that they are separated from the business operations while in office, so they would have no way to know who or what they're doing non-government business with. Yes, cash might come from a foreign country into a Presdent's account eventually, but he won't know where it came from, and couldn't verify it if a foreign dignitary tried to claim it.

    Instead, President Trump is hosting guests directly at his properties, charging them the usual high rates, and sending it directly into accounts he controls. There is no attempt to appear like he's separating his personal business from his administration. To countries with looser standards on corruption and bribery, it appears that putting money in Trump's pocket is an easy way to get close to him. Even if he's being perfectly honest and doesn't accept bribes (such as by having the personal moral fortitude to not check his hotels' guest lists), it still appears to the rest of the world that he is. That damage to America's reputation is exactly what the emoluments clause is intended to prevent.

    It is also not illegal to collude with a foreign government. In fact, it is the President's FUCKING JOB to collude with foreign governments, on many many things, from trade to aid to research to defense.

    As others noted, yes, the President is authorized to collaborate on certain activities. However, one of the things expressly forbidden is foreign interference in elections. The other requirement is that such negotiations must be handled according to certain procedures, which the President has utterly neglected.

    It's also notable that President Trump has already registered as a candidate for the 2020 election. That means he not only gets to do campaign fundraising, but also falls under campaign laws that also limit his dealings with foreign entities.

    The far-left whackos who insist there was some conspiracy are just that: far-left whackos.

    I agree with you here. It's unreasonable to insist there was a conspiracy involving Trump, just like it's unreasonable to insist that Hillary Clinton should be in jail. There is evidence of some abnormalities in Trump's campaign, and there have been several indictments and guilty pleas already. What is not proven (though it certainly seems likely) is that Trump himself was involved to the extent the law forbids.

    However, that's not the extent of the alleged offenses. He's also pushed on several occasions to have the investigation terminated prematurely, which is itself an obstruction of justice. Trump could have been completely innocent of the original conspiracies with Russia (which could possibly, if unlikely, have been the efforts of overzealous campaign managers), but the use of his official capacity (including his official Twitter account) to disparage and direct the FBI away from performing an exhaustive investigation would itself likely be a crime.

    Even if Trump did blatantly violate the law, it's nearly (though not completely) impossible to indict a sitting President. Instead, Mueller's report will go to Congress, who could determine that Trump should be impeached. If Congress removes Trump from office, then he could be indicted. Then he could be convicted, and then we could say factually that he committed a crime.

    Until then, he enjoys the same innocent-until-proven-guilty status that Hillary Clinton does, as he continues to be the subject of a duly-commissioned investigation.

    --
    You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
  34. Re:But her emails! by terrycarlino · · Score: 1

    Accept that Manafort's charges stem from actions starting in 2006 and concern not Russia, but Ukraine, a nation that doesn't exactly have good relations with Russia.

    So pointing Manafort's conviction as some kind of validation of an investigation of Trump for colluding with Russia is disingenuous at best or at worst out and out fabrication for partisan purposes.

    Would he have been charged if not for Mueller's investigation? I don't know and neither do you. I suspect that as stringent as the laws are that there are a lot of people in D.C. who skirt the foreign agent law, specifically when they are paid by a foreign corporation with close foreign government ties. Manafort's partner, who never had any ties to Trump is being prosecuted too.

    That's like saying Jim McDougal's conviction proves Bill Clinton broke the law in the Whitewater Development Corporation. Except McDougal was actually associated with Clinton during the period in which he committed his crimes. Manafort wasn't associated with Trump when he committed his crimes, but let's not let facts intrude upon a good partisan character assassination.

  35. Re:Bazinga! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    want make sex?

    Would you like some making fuck? Berzerker!

    Metal Face! Girl think sexy

  36. Re:Paywall? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Disabling cookies used to work on WP, but now it doesn't. I think they also track IP address, but I'm not sure. I'm too lazy to trace it down, it's just easier to find alternative news outlets.

    It still works on NYT though.

  37. I know it's Tin Foil Hat territory but by nehumanuscrede · · Score: 2

    I'm curious how they " discovered " the alleged child porn if it was encrypted under three layers of passwords. I find it unlikely he would have voluntarily given up that information considering the punishment for possession of said material is far greater than failing to divulge a password ( or three ) to investigators. I also find it unlikely that, considering the work he did for the Agency, said material would be so easily discovered on anything he owns since he would have much better insight as to what methods they can utilize to infiltrate and / or gain access to targeted systems.

    I suppose since it's the CIA we're talking about, nothing would be off limits ( unofficially ) in how they conduct their own investigations since they tend to operate without much oversight. ( That statement should scare the hell out of anyone. ) My gut feeling is it's a warning shot for any others who might consider similar actions against the Agency in the future.

    Do anything to expose or embarrass us and we will bury you forever. ( Even if we have to fabricate the evidence ourselves. )

  38. Re:The Oh-My faggot is lying again? Republicanism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are only half right... Hillary isn't going to be charged.... Neither is Trump. We KNOW she broke the law but so far there isn't any evidence he did.

    If folks like you keep up the hysteria, Trump is going to be in office until about noon on January 20, 2025 with a congress that keeps sliding further right every 2 years. Then where will you be?

  39. The best people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The question is : how did a person of Manafort's character come to be the campaign chair?. Whoever brought him on board - and it's reasonable to assume the candidate had significant influence over the decision - either failed to any due diligence, or chose the candidate despite (or perhaps precisely because of) his dodgy background.

  40. Edward Blowden? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Some officials have compared the leak of which he is accused to that of former National Security Agency contractor Edward Blowden, who also revealed details about U.S. capabilities to spy on computers and phones around the world.

    Never heard of the bloke.

  41. Re: Bazinga! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This guy fucks.

  42. Re: Bazinga! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yawn.

  43. Re: But her emails! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are leaving out some pretty important facts. But we all know why you are doing that.

  44. Re: But her emails! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Partisan hack leaving out important details again. Nothing new.

  45. Re:But her emails! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And Snowden? Manning? Winner?

    Did THEY get a pass from the FBI?

  46. If Lynch had pressed charges, Biden would be Prez by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The funny thing is, if Obama (and no, he doesn't get a pass - he set the tone early by announcing Hillary!'s felonious server was "nothing" - probably because emails from Obama himself were on it...) and Lynch had pressed charges against Hillary!, she probably would have been forced out of the campaign.

    The Democrats likely would have drafted Joe Biden at that point.

    And Joe Biden would have won the Rust Belt states that Trump squeaked past Hillary in, such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, because he isn't downright hated in the places.

    So by defending the WORST FUCKING CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE US, OBAMA ENSURED THE SECOND-WORST WOULD BE PRESIDENT AFTER HIM.

    Do you really think Obama didn't set the tone at the very least - if he didn't actively direct a coverup? Just look back at the dirty political tricks in Obama's past - he makes Bill Clinton look like a kindergarten class president when it comes to dirty tricks. Chicago politicians play for keeps.

  47. Re:But her emails! by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

    No.

    They got a fucking pass from the goddam gubment that gave them the keys to the store.

    --
    It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
  48. Traitor...execute him! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Make an example out of him and charge him with treason.

  49. Re: But her emails! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In my country we dont have royalty. If you or I committed the same crimes our collective asses would be in jail for decades. But for her I should be happy that she just barely did not get elected President?? And only because she was the worst campaigner ever? And you consider that sufficient punishment?

    You are freakin nuts.

  50. The proof is in all your posts Windy by CaffeinatedBacon · · Score: 1

    But the King Of Lies, Windy, is decent and honest? Don't make me laugh.
    The proof is in all you constant lies, and calling everyone else a liar without ever backing it up with proof. You're just about as dishonest as anyone could possibly get.

  51. I doubt you could even be honest to yourself by crimson+tsunami · · Score: 1

    Half the numbers in this post you just made up. You knew they were made up because I showed you the actual numbers last time you pulled the same lies. You admitted one of them, but not the other, and still refused to explain where the made up numbers came from.
    That was just one of many lies you keep trying to spread. Or things you just make up, to sound like you know something, when you clearly don't.

    You constantly throw around accusations of lying at other people as a distraction for your own lies, but never show a single one about anyone else.

    Care to show even a single post where I haven't been decent or honest?

  52. That's not what treason or levy war means... by crimson+tsunami · · Score: 1
    I enjoy pointing out your stupidity

    Early judicial interpretation of the meaning of treason in terms of levying war was conditioned by the partisan struggles of the early nineteenth century, which involved the treason trials of Aaron Burr and his associates. In Ex parte Bollman,1479 which involved two of Burr’s confederates, Chief Justice Marshall, speaking for himself and three other Justices, confined the meaning of levying war to the actual waging of war. “However agitious may be the crime of conspiring to subvert by force the government of our country, such conspiracy is not treason. To conspire to levy war, and actually to levy war, are distinct offences. The first must be brought into open action by the assemblage of men for a purpose treasonable in itself, or the fact of levying war cannot have been committed. So far has this principle been carried, that . . . it has been determined that the actual enlistment of men to serve against the government does not amount to levying war.” Chief Justice Marshall was careful, however, to state that the Court did not mean that no person could be guilty of this crime who had not appeared in arms against the country. “On the contrary, if war be actually levied, that is, if a body of men be actually assembled for the purpose of effecting by force a treasonable purpose, all those who perform any part, however minute, or however remote from the scene of action, and who are actually leagued in the general conspiracy, are to be considered as traitors. But there must be an actual assembling of men, for the treasonable purpose, to constitute a levying of war.”

    Wikileaks has clearly not taken up arms or declared war on America, you're full of shit as usual.

  53. Just as good the second time. by crimson+tsunami · · Score: 1

    I enjoy pointing out your stupidity

    Early judicial interpretation of the meaning of treason in terms of levying war was conditioned by the partisan struggles of the early nineteenth century, which involved the treason trials of Aaron Burr and his associates. In Ex parte Bollman,1479 which involved two of Burr’s confederates, Chief Justice Marshall, speaking for himself and three other Justices, confined the meaning of levying war to the actual waging of war. “However agitious may be the crime of conspiring to subvert by force the government of our country, such conspiracy is not treason. To conspire to levy war, and actually to levy war, are distinct offences. The first must be brought into open action by the assemblage of men for a purpose treasonable in itself, or the fact of levying war cannot have been committed. So far has this principle been carried, that . . . it has been determined that the actual enlistment of men to serve against the government does not amount to levying war.” Chief Justice Marshall was careful, however, to state that the Court did not mean that no person could be guilty of this crime who had not appeared in arms against the country. “On the contrary, if war be actually levied, that is, if a body of men be actually assembled for the purpose of effecting by force a treasonable purpose, all those who perform any part, however minute, or however remote from the scene of action, and who are actually leagued in the general conspiracy, are to be considered as traitors. But there must be an actual assembling of men, for the treasonable purpose, to constitute a levying of war.”

    Wikileaks has clearly not taken up arms or declared war on America, you're full of shit as usual.

    1. Re:Just as good the second time. by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

      Even if WikiLeaks took up arms and declared war on America, it can't be treason.

      Treason is an act of a United States citizen declaring war on the United States.

      WikiLeaks is not American.

      Go look at the Civil War.

      When Japan declared war on the United States, we did not charge them and try them for treason.

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
    2. Re:Just as good the second time. by crimson+tsunami · · Score: 1

      If Wikileaks declared war on America and took up arms against it, any Americans working for Wikileaks or helping them could be tried for Treason.
      Didn't you round up a few Japanese people? They probably could have charged them with treason if they were actually helping Japan. But America found a much simpler way to deal with them anyway.

      Don't get distracted from the main point though, WindBourne is wrong as usual.

    3. Re:Just as good the second time. by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

      Now you're reaching; building tailored scenarios designed to support a sinking ship.

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
    4. Re:Just as good the second time. by crimson+tsunami · · Score: 1

      You are the fool trying to build a nonsense scenario in an attempt to hide the fact you are flat our wrong.
      Even more wrong than WindBourne, which in itself is amazing.

    5. Re:Just as good the second time. by CaptainDork · · Score: 1

      Oh yeah?

      Well, your feet stink and you don't love Jesus.

      --
      It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
  54. Alternate hacker... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If any pecker pics show up it's gotta be Carlos Danger!

  55. Well 1 of those is true... by crimson+tsunami · · Score: 1

    OK, ok, they're both true, don't tell anyone.