A recent deep dive into this case from The New Yorker:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/06/13/the-surreal-ca...
Ex-CIA coder behind WikiLeaks ‘Vault 7’ cache found guilty of espionage
21–30 of 76 posts
Re: Ex-CIA coder behind WikiLeaks ‘Vault 7’ cache found guilty of espionage
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not every leak and leaker is the same. If a tool/procedure like that existed, it would probably be used on people who could generate positive public perception of their actions. Apparently the "vault 7" leak was centered around how devices were hacked to spy on private citizens and consumers. The public has a soft spot for people who leak things that expose direct invasions of privacy. Chelsea Manning on the other ha…
then why wouldn't they have used it against Edward Snowden? he revealed a whole mass surveillance operation, along with misconduct by NSA agents, and there was a lot of popular support for him. I still agree they could have smeared him, but I don't think it's improbable that the porn was actually his. Pedophiles are skilled at opsec, keeping secrets and doing unsavory things, so their background suits working in IC i…
How would it work with Snowden? "Yknow the guy who flew to Hong Kong and stated he deleted all his data? Turns out he still had one computer he forgot that just so happens to be jam packed with illegal porn."
Much easier to trap him in Russia and claim he's a foreign agent.
Re: Ex-CIA coder behind WikiLeaks ‘Vault 7’ cache found guilty of espionage
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
The go to ‘sprinkle some crack on em’ tool in the alphabet toolbox.
He had state secrets on his machine.. why would they need to do this or what would they gain from doing this?
How would they know he had state secrets on his computer? And how could they convince a judge they knew he had those secrets without admitting to illegal activities themselves?
Re: Ex-CIA coder behind WikiLeaks ‘Vault 7’ cache found guilty of espionage
#24Re: Ex-CIA coder behind WikiLeaks ‘Vault 7’ cache found guilty of espionage
#25If you're going to illegally leak sensitive information, give it to journalists, not WikiLeaks. Good journalists know how to balance public safety and public interest, and have the resources to redact dangerous information. WikiLeaks is much more anarchic and leans heavily towards total disclosure.
Ah yes. Journalists who definitely aren't going to be subjects of the illegal domestic surveillance which is exists precisely for the purpose of doing things like stopping journalists from doing their jobs.
Re: Ex-CIA coder behind WikiLeaks ‘Vault 7’ cache found guilty of espionage
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Impeaching the witness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witness_impeachment
IANAL, but I don't think they can introduce child pornography charge in the espionage trial--they severed the two trials, and the ex-CIA coder hasn't yet been convicted of child pornography (it's the later trial), so it doesn't fall under the "Prior Conviction" umbrella.
Fair point. There are other potential prosecutorial benefits.
There's still the court-of-public-opinion element. Such a charge might give allies / witnesses for the defence pause to come forward.
Facing multiple independent counts also increases pressure, costs, and distracts attention for the defendant against any one case. Given the defendant here is representing himself, that may be a major hurdle. (Last sentence here is a stealth edit FYI.)
Whether the CP charges are justified or strategic I really can't say. The practice of digging up additional dirt on defendants in specific instances is a venerable tradition however.
Re: Ex-CIA coder behind WikiLeaks ‘Vault 7’ cache found guilty of espionage
#27Coincidentally had child porn on his machine.
ASD love doing that too. I think they got it from the Americans.
Re: Ex-CIA coder behind WikiLeaks ‘Vault 7’ cache found guilty of espionage
#28Coincidentally had child porn on his machine.
The go to ‘sprinkle some crack on em’ tool in the alphabet toolbox.
I think all the comments miss that this comment is said as a joke. I don't think OP is meant that they literally did that - it would be a particularly dumb law enforcement move that would jeopardize the entire case.
Re: Ex-CIA coder behind WikiLeaks ‘Vault 7’ cache found guilty of espionage
#29Coincidentally had child porn on his machine.
This one is very hard to believe. A guy who worked on advanced hacking tools and was able to get out that much data without trace does not know how to use encrypted hidden volumes nor shred his hard drives?
Re: Ex-CIA coder behind WikiLeaks ‘Vault 7’ cache found guilty of espionage
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not every leak and leaker is the same. If a tool/procedure like that existed, it would probably be used on people who could generate positive public perception of their actions. Apparently the "vault 7" leak was centered around how devices were hacked to spy on private citizens and consumers. The public has a soft spot for people who leak things that expose direct invasions of privacy. Chelsea Manning on the other ha…
then why wouldn't they have used it against Edward Snowden? he revealed a whole mass surveillance operation, along with misconduct by NSA agents, and there was a lot of popular support for him. I still agree they could have smeared him, but I don't think it's improbable that the porn was actually his. Pedophiles are skilled at opsec, keeping secrets and doing unsavory things, so their background suits working in IC i…
Because that dirty tricks team was busy with Assange