CBS News first reported a manhunt inside the Central Intelligence Agency in search of the source who provided thousands of top secret documents to WikiLeaks, published in its “Vault 7” — which revealed the clandestine agency’s hacking tools and surveillance practices.
“Sources familiar with the investigation say it is looking for an insider — either a CIA employee or contractor — who had physical access to the material,” CBS reported Wednesday evening. “The agency has not said publicly when the material was taken or how it was stolen.
Much of the material was classified and stored in a highly secure section of the intelligence agency, but sources say hundreds of people would have had access to the material. Investigators are going through those names.
Investigators surmise the source of the massive leak was either an agent of the CIA or a contractor with the agency — someone with physical access — rather than an outside hacker.
In a statement coinciding with the Vault 7 release, WikiLeaks announced,
The archive appears to have been circulated among former US government hackers and contractors in an unauthorized manner, one of whom has provided WikiLeaks with portions of the archive […]
In a statement to WikiLeaks the source details policy questions that they say urgently need to be debated in public, including whether the CIA’s hacking capabilities exceed its mandated powers and the problem of public oversight of the agency. The source wishes to initiate a public debate about the security, creation, use, proliferation and democratic control of cyberweapons.
Officials from the CIA and FBI quickly reviewed the case and, within one day, initiated a joint investigation of the release — including the internal manhunt in question.
WikiLeaks — itself, fraught by rumors of enemy State collusion and political opportunism — was lambasted by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who also had choice words for the pro-transparency organization’s founder, Julian Assange, in his first public comments since taking that role:
It is time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is: A non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia.
WikiLeaks founder and editor Julian Assange — incidentally deemed a “demon” by Pompeo — responded to the wholly unproven accusation, stating,
In fact, the reason Pompeo is launching this attack is because he understands we are exposing in this series all sorts of illegal actions by the CIA, so he’s trying to get ahead of the publicity curve and create a preemptive defense.
Former CIA Deputy Director Mike Morell claimed within days of the Vault 7 disclosure it had to be an ‘inside job.’
“This data is not shared outside CIA,” Morell said. “It’s only inside CIA. It’s on CIA’s top secret network, which is not connected to any other network. So, this has to be an inside job.”
Investigators continue to pore over the hundreds of names of hundreds of contractors and agents who would have had physical access to the high-security area, urgently seeking the unknown person or persons who could have managed such a devastating theft of information.
Given the nature and scope of WikiLeaks’ trove — estimated of greater impact than spying practices revealed by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden — whoever was behind the breach is likely to become a transparency and anti-surveillance folk hero.
Thus far, the CIA has not commented on the ongoing probe — nor on the authenticity of documents in the WikiLeaks trove.
Assange, in the same statement released in tandem with Vault 7, noted the content of the cache,
The disclosure is also exceptional from a political, legal and forensic perspective.
Claire Bernish began writing as an independent, investigative journalist in 2015, with works published and republished around the world. Not one to hold back, Claire’s particular areas of interest include U.S. foreign policy, analysis of international affairs, and everything pertaining to transparency and thwarting censorship. To keep up with the latest uncensored news, follow her on Facebook or Twitter: @Subversive_Pen. This article first appeared here at TheFreeThoughtProject.com
Suspicious “Suicides” or “Accidents” occurring to people about to reveal information on a variety of issues:
The DC Madam, Brietbart, Gary Webb, of the San Jose Mercury News, Michael Hastings died in a single vehicle crash after saying he had a big breaking story, Vince Foster, Dorthy Killgallen, Michael Ruppert, Monica Petersen, a woman who was investigating the Clinton foundation for child trafficking and was found dead from “suicide” in Haiti 2/17, Lori Klausutis, a 28-year-old office worker for Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-Fl and most recently the black man murdered the day before testifying in a case against Hillary.
Agree with you Joe. I will suggest this happens across various political/social landscapes for example Michael Jackson who sang “they don’t care about us” to most recent Aaron Hernandez NFL star dying in his cell after winning a murder case against him. Suspicion on many accounts indeed.
The coroners are elected officials that hold their office with the utmost integrity. After all, they were sElected by the ones that count the votes (DieBold). When someone dies of unnatural causes and there might be public suspicion, then the coroners should just come out and say that they have determined that these people were “suicided.” It will add credibility to their reports.
The Clintons have left many more than that behind that had mysterious deaths or committed suicide by shooting themself in the back of the head. I’m sure we can add Seth Rich who was working for the DNC and was probably the leaker to Assange.
Absolutely. When I put stuff out like this I find it important to be simple about it. Yep, anyone can go to youtube and search Clinton death machine, etc.
Yes, Karolyn Barry Seal is the ‘Barry’ in Barry and the Boys. He was found in the trunk of his car, after calling the Head Honcho ( G. H. Bush).
My list (ask for details about individual names if interested):
Aaron Swartz
Barry Jennings
Brandi Britton
Danny Casolaro
Christopher Landis
David Ferrie
David Graham
David Kelly
Deborah Palfrey
Dorothy Killgallen
Eli M. Black
Flo Pritchett
Frank Olson
Gary Webb
George de Mohrenschild
George Polk
James Forrestal
J. Garrett “Gary” Underhill
Jesse Trentadue
Jim Koethe
John F. Kennedy
Johnny Roselli
Lee Bowers Jr.
Leo Damore
Malcom X
Mary Pinchot Meyer
Mary Sherman
Martin Luther King
Michael Hastings
Philip Graham
Ray Gricar
Robert F. Kennedy
Roscoe White
Rose Cherami
Sam Giancana
Shawn Lucas
Stephen Ivens
Terrance Yeakey
Thomas Hale Boggs
Tom Howard
William Pitzer
Thanks, what might be helpful to all is a few words with each as younger folks wouldn’t know Dorthty Kilgalken from the 50’s or Jesse from the OKC event perhaps. I would gladly incorporate a list into mine for cut and paste posting perhaps to add links.
We are all teammates at this point both harvesting and planting truth to grow a revolution if conscioucness IMO.
“This data is not shared outside CIA,” Morell said. “It’s only inside CIA. It’s on CIA’s top secret network, which is not connected to any other network. So, this has to be an inside job.” Thank you Sir Morell for confirming something many of us know and a few suspected. Why don’t you add that the CIA is designed for covert domestic/foreign missions as well used to topple other governments?
The CIA is partners with M-16 – Mossad – Germany Intel and even with FSB sometimes in the past. This new programmed scenario is all about giving the Judicial system more BS jurisdiction over the public and those truth sayers that are getting their info -vault 7 etc from one of these intel agencies. It was a plan that has its long term pattern for more than 1 reason.
Do you think it is going to be a successful strategy for them in the long run? I think they are fighting a losing battle.
It’s a propaganda scam since what they do is Unconstitutional and they know it – it’s In Your Face American Citizen
Not to mention ‘guns for drugs’. Since the Cuba crisis, Bay of Pigs the CIA has been selling taxpayer funded weapons to other countries for their drugs.
Opiates are in pharma drugs, guess the war on drugs is being won by middle east invasion.
Fast and furious Holder has never been so much as questioned.
‘Barry and the Boys’ by Dennis Hopsicker is eye opening and a tale of drugs being flown into Mena, Ark. by ahh gee Bush 41 was head of the CIA at the time. Poor Barry…rip.
And Bill Clinton was governor when the drugs were being brought into Mena by Barry Seal who also was murdered just before agreeing to testify. Clinton would not let the authorities do anything about the drugs because he was most likely one of the users. The Clinton either pay people off or give them good jobs to keep them quiet.
I’ll say it. The CIA is a treasonous agency. CIA Director Mike Pompeo is a TRAITOR to the American people, to the US Constitution, etc. They are Oath breakers which is a felony and the crimes of Perjury; plus other criminal actions working AGAINST our legitimate government.
Sounds like the leaker remembered his Oath to the CONSTITUTION