- Former govt. agent admits spying on Attkisson, implicates his colleagues.
- Former U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein is accused of leading the group.
- Govt. hackers allegedly reported to FBI official who now heads CrowdStrike
Read all of the background here.
A former U.S. government agent has admitted participating in the illegal government surveillance on then-CBS New investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson. The insider has identified former U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein as the person responsible for the project.
As a result of the new admission, Attkisson and her family are filing suit against Rosenstein and four other men allegedly involved. According to the lawsuit, the illegal surveillance was conducted against Attkisson and other U.S. citizens under a government operation based at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Plaintiffs first acquired the details regarding key individuals involved in the surveillance in August, 2019, from a person involved in the wrongdoing who has come forward to provide information. Prior to that time, the Government and its agents and representatives had denied that any such conduct had occurred, including denials in Court pleadings and argument.
Attkisson v. Rosenstein, et. al.
The Attkisson lawsuit claims that in March 2011, Defendants Shawn Henry, Shaun Bridges, Robert Clarke, and Ryan White, all of whom were government employees connected to a special multi-agency federal government task force based in Baltimore, Maryland, were ordered by Defendant Rosenstein to conduct home computer surveillance on Attkisson and other U.S. citizens.
Shawn Henry was head of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. In 2012, Henry left the FBI and now is president of CrowdStrike Services, a company that seeks to mitigate targeted online attacks on corporate and government networks globally.
Shaun Bridges was as a Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service for approximately six years, operating out of the Baltimore Field Office. Between 2012 and 2014, he was assigned to the Baltimore Silk Road Task Force, a multi-agency group investigating illegal activity on the Silk Road, a covert online marketplace for illicit goods, including drugs. In 2015 and 2017, Bridges was convicted of corruption related to his government work, and is now serving a prison sentence.
At the time Attkisson was targeted by the illegal surveillance, she was a CBS News investigative correspondent who was uncovering news about the Department of Justice’s “gun walking” operation known as Fast and Furious. Attkisson’s reporting of the case ultimately was recognized with an Edward R. Murrow award and an Emmy Award for investigative reporting.
Click here for additional background information on the Attkisson case.
Unauthorized, remote surveillance of Attkisson continued throughout her subsequent reporting on the Islamic extremist attacks on Americans in Benghazi, Libya on Sept. 11, 2012. That reporting was recognized with an investigative Emmy nomination. CBS News first confirmed the illegal computer intrusions in August 2013.
In another development, a former FBI Unit Chief has signed a sworn Affidavit confirming that forensics prove U.S. government software was used in illegal surveillance on Attkisson and her family.
Leslie Szwajkowski, an attorney, headed up the FBI’s Electronic Surveillance Technology Section. He says that a colleague asked him for help in examining Attkisson’s computer in late 2012. Szwajkowski says a forensics exam conducted by a technician with expertise in government surveillance tools confirmed that spyware proprietary to a federal agency was found in Attkisson’s computer. Szwajkowski says he and his colleagues were “shocked” and “outraged” to learn the government was spying on a journalist.
I personally could not imagine that something like this could ever happen in the United State of America.
Leslie Szwajkowski, former FBI Unit Chief
Szwajkowski said, according to the forensics, the remote intruders had “full access” to Attkisson’s computer, files, photographs and internet activities. The surveillance allegedly included a keystroke monitoring program, exfiltration of Attkisson’s files, and listening in on her audio through Skype.
I’ve learned that when the Justice Dept. won’t hold its own accountable, the ability to get justice in civil court can be nearly impossible for an ordinary citizen, even when irrefutable forensic proof and admissions are in hand, such as in my case. There are six ways from Sunday that the Justice Department can make sure the proof is never seen by a jury. On the other hand, it’s worth the fight because at least we are bringing important information to light about the illegal government abuses that I believe have happened to many U.S. citizens, the least of which is me. I’m grateful to the 4th amendment and free press advocates who have continued to selflessly support this effort.
Sharyl Attkisson, Jan. 9, 2020
Read the Attkisson v. Rosenstein complaint below.
I want the list of names you referred to as “other persons.”
Check out johnheretohelp on twitter. He is Ryan White. He is a supposed whistleblower against Rosenstein.
Do not be deceived, God will not be mocked! What a man sows he will also reap. Mark God’s Word and stand on it!
Just saw your post and Facebook – it took my breath away, I have been following your case from day one! Bought your book, Stonewalled, as soon as it came out. I have to admit that I never thought we would see this day – the government was stonewalling you for a long time.
Congratulations Sharyl. Truth prevailed, now you’ll finally get justice – they should all do time.
Readers: Help spread the work on these bombshell developments. The MSM certainly won’t!
You go girl!
Would love to know who gave Rosenstein his orders? The fast and furious and Bengazi reports would have had no personal effect on a Rosenstein. He was a Deputy, and deputies follow orders. But you know this. Good luck in your endeavors, its unfortunate the President has been advised by the swamp dwellers, the same folks trying to take him out. Its no wonder why their have been so many staff changes. He came into this truly alone without Government connections. Its amazing he has gotten as far as he has. We need more like you to fight the fight and bring out Government back to the people.
God Bless you and your quest for Justice Sharyl.
We all love you and are pulling and praying for you!!!!!
A good development. Getting that reliable information is difficult.
Thanks for the update.
You Go GATOR! Huge win finding this person with an actual conscience!
Congratulations Sharyl, I hope for your’s and everyone’s sake this is enough to bring the walls tumbling down. I have been happy to donate to your brave fight even though I’m in the UK as, if the USA can’t be trusted, who can? Following our (UK) own Brexit shenanigans it’s quite obvious to all we have our own embedded swamp.
I have currently been targeted, harassed, stalked, for over 10+ years now and was a former employee of the postal inspection service who abused their authority and targeted me because they considered me a whistle blower. They received support from that I know from being directly harassed by these agencies, nj state police, ny state police, pa state police, fbi, park police( I live in the rural town of Sussex nj), postal oig, people from the local agencies, since 2009 harassing me off and at work, hacking my iPad and iPhone devices and continue with their manufactured case they created against me with these other agencies past retirement.
I empathize with you. I am considered a whistleblower myself and they have put me in the trenches. Please see my comment below. Hang on. Change is coming. I truly believe it.
Very pleased with your news, keep it up! See also Judicial Watch, January 2020, and Marie Yovanovitch and CrowdTangle!
You have shown amazing courage and determination. History is made of moments like this.
Godspeed.
Get a job and quit filing these Frivolous lawsuits!
Oh please. Go block traffic like a good Leftist.
So glad the truth is emerging. It is truly chilling that the government has not only surveilled political enemies, but journalists and citizens. And yet mum is the word in the MSM. Not a true journalist in those farcical news organizations, which are really just government propaganda arms giving them cover. Shocking stuff..
Take no prisoners, Sharyl! These people are evil.
Finally, the Dam Cracks! Congrats!
I picture Rosenstein standing behind Barr, like a deer caught in the headlights. A body language expert on YouTube had much to say about that!
LITTLE LADY I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. FOR THE LAST 28 YEARS I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLUM. AND WHAT AMERICA NEEDS TO KNOW . YOU DONT HAVE TO BE THE BAD PERSON FoR THIS TO HAPPEN TO YOU. (LIKE MY SELF ) JEST KNOWING THERE ACTIONS IS ALL IT TAKES. MIND STARTED JEST AFTER JUNE 4 1991 . WHEN THE ACTIONS OF A LOCAL D.R. AND STAT CASE WORKER SHOULD HAVE PUT THEM IN JAIL. BUT THEN (DAMAGE CONTROL ) TOOK OVER. (THEY HAVE NO LAWSAND NO RULES TO GO BY. AND WHAT I HAVE DEALED WITH FOR LAST 28 YR . WILL ANGER ALL AMERICANS . BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOUR TAX DOLLARS IS PAYING FOR . THE (FACT THE COUNTY.STATE AND THE FEDS HAVE HAD THERE HEAD IS MY ASS FOR ALL THIS TIME IS ( BECAUSE IN THE SPRING OF 1996 THERE WAS A LOT OF MERCURY DUMPED IN THE FL PANHANDLE/. AND IT WAS THE FEDS TYHAT DID IT . AND ALL LOCALS COVERED IT UP. TO SEE THAT AND 100 TIMES MORE PLEASE LOOK AT MY FACE BOOK TIMELINE . https://www.facebook.com/eadygeorgem . I stand behind every word. even the times they have tried to kill me set me up and more . SO SHARYLL WHEN I SAY I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. THIS SHOWS JEST THAT
Sharyl,
I am quite certain it has been an extraordinarily tough, frustrating, exhaustive and likely very expensive journey to get to this point where a former US government agent admitted participating in illegal government surveillance. I am delighted you are able to open many eyes and inform Americans how difficult it is to crack open corruption within the Deep State!
Until US government employees are exposed and held ACCOUNTABLE for unethical and illegal actions corruption inside the Deep State won’t change.
Every year Americans read about US attorneys cited for egregious prosecutorial misconduct in Federal court cases and recently read about FISA abuse at the FBI — are those unethical US government employees ever held accountable for their actions; are they ever fired — no, they are generally transferred somewhere else within the Deep State. And more importantly —- what don’t we hear about?
Thank you keeping us updated.
You give them to much credit when you refer to them as “1-50 unnamed agents”. Many are potentially contractors or analysts. Better to refer to them as “employees” to cover all bases.