"For me, it was easy … easy for me, for everybody," Marcel Lehel Lazar, who goes by the moniker "Guccifer," told Fox News from a Virginia jail where he is being held.
Guccifer’s potential role in the Clinton email investigation was first reported by Fox News last month. The hacker subsequently claimed he was able to access the server – and provided extensive details about how he did it and what he found – over the course of a half-hour jailhouse interview and a series of recorded phone calls with Fox News.
Fox News could not independently confirm Lazar’s claims.
In response to Lazar’s claims, the Clinton campaign issued a statement Wednesday night saying, "There is absolutely no basis to believe the claims made by this criminal from his prison cell. In addition to the fact he offers no proof to support his claims, his descriptions of Secretary Clinton's server are inaccurate. It is unfathomable that he would have gained access to her emails and not leaked them the way he did to his other victims.”
The former secretary of state’s server held nearly 2,200 emails containing information now deemed classified, and another 22 at the “Top Secret” level. Fox News
—————
This fellow claims he did this while working from a private site in a small village in Romania. I envisage this as having been the equivalent of working from your mother's basement. Well, pilgrims … I expect DT will be all over this. Why would he not be? And then there is Roger Ailes who is emerging as a Trump ally.
Let's see now … The GRU undoubtedly has a SIGINT collection station in the Russian embassy in Washington. An e-mail signal is basically radio. What's the chance they did not focus on SECSTATE's e-mail however transmitted? And then there are the Chinese at their embassy on Connecticut Avenue over by Rock Creek park. What's the chance?
sir,
only chance is if no one (Chinese, Russians, etc.) knew Clinton was keeping that server at home. But what are the odds of them not knowing that fact?
We need to get over it. This nonsense will not change any votes.
Never underestimate a mother’s basement as a base of hacker operations. I have seen drug addled kids run rampant in the routers and switches of INSCOM while its Information Dominance Center remained oblivious. The Army Online servers were owned from the depths of a mother’s basement.
Any server linked to a domain name like clintonemail.com would be a magnate to curious hackers as well as the Russian, Chinese, Israeli and Iranian equivalents of NSA. The physical location of that server matters not. I think Clinton’s use of a private server to skirt open-records laws stands a better chance to deep six her than her mishandling of classified information. Bernie is right to hang in there.
Should we not also take note of the fact that private commercial firms, such as the outfit that the FBI contracted with to crack the San Bernardino phone, sell their services worldwide? There is so much expertise out there for hire that the only prudent thing is to assume that any electronic data is potentially “hackable” unless protected by the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art devices monitored by officials more conscientious even than those at the NSC – witness Snowden
The best thing EVER (until Emperor DJT ascends to the presidency, that is) would be the media petitioning for the emails, and the government refusing to turn them over.
Only for Russia to say “Oh we have them. Here you go.”
Well aside from everything else it would be completely possible for this guy to do it. Nothing he claims would be impossible for him to do. I remember when the group Lulzsec was embarassing the entire security apparatus and it turned out to be a handful of teenagers quite literally in their parents’ basements…
NO CHANCE IMO!
“… the Clinton campaign issued a statement Wednesday night saying, “There is absolutely no basis to believe the claims made by this criminal…”
It is apparently only criminals who make Democratic politicians look bad who can’t be trusted. Unlike the “ex-criminals”, now to be considered honest and trustworthy, who, by executive order of the Governor of Virginia, had their voting rights (but not those 2nd Amendment rights) restored. We are also to have confidence in the politicians who believe many who are incarcerated should not be:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/04/20/upshot/missing-black-men.html
I wonder which party those politicians are in.
It just keeps getting more interesting. This is a major problem for her as it leads to a completely separate crime. Now she has several potential charges, any one of which would put a mere mortal in prison, to fight. Then we gave the corruption charges for selling political influence for donations to the Clinton Foundation. I wonder what percentage of the non-profit is actually used for altruistic purposes?
“clintonemail.com would be a magnate”
Of course I mean magnet, but the server was obviously used by a magnate.
If Clinton (and Guccifer) related servers are intact, this claim should be verifiable.
Any competent investigative law enforcement agency can likely identify such a breach made in the past, and potentially corroborate the claim.
Furthermore, I expect the Clinton-related servers have already been thoroughly examined with the intent of detecting any possible breaches.
as well as the Russian, Chinese, Israeli and Iranian equivalents of NSA.
Come on, even the good allies of Western Europe will do it – that’s how the game is played – there are no choir boys amongst “allies”
Col. Lang, SST;
Do you think there will be leaks from the investigators of these issues, and where do you think such information will first surface? Some of us here think that they will wait till Ms. Clinton is nominated and then start providing information to blogs. Some colleagues think there will be no leaks due to Borg control.
Ishmael Zechariah
Some time ago, our host did an informal survey of this committee asking (I don’t recall the exact question) which candidate each of us supported / would vote for. The consensus, as Pat summarized it, was to vote for Clinton while holding one’s nose.
I wonder if any of those who said they would vote for Clinton (that included me) have now changed their mind (I haven’t)?
IZ
IMO Obama is trying to keep the FBI under control. How that will work for him is unclear to me. these people all know of many channels to surface whatever they want. pl
Beaver
The SIGINT stations in their embassies here would all belong to their national SIGINT service. You forgot Canada. pl
The Beaver,
That’s true.
The Donald has done so many questionable things, his bankruptcies, questionable at best university, business practices, hiring of illegals, etc., that it is the height of hypocrisy to cast stones at Hillary’s activities. But perhaps like Donald’s followers who don’t seemed to be bothered by his rather repugnant behaviors, Hillary’s followers are not turned off by accusations that she may or may not have done something illegal and some unreliable hacker may or may not have gotten access to some or none of her emails. I am so sick of this election. Wish I could wake up and it was over and Donald was back to selling steak and wine of questionable quality.
Mark Pyruz,
The premise of relying on forensics at this point is severely compromised. Clinton had possession of the servers long after she knew there would be an investigation. Evidence can be erased or modified in that time. The FBI can probably still tell the servers were modified which could have something to do with the amnesty offer to the sysadmin. Add obstruction of an FBI investigation and/or destruction of evidence to the list of charges.
Nancy K
I never liked the business world but know a lot about it. Bankruptcies as a ploy in large scale business is nothing special. if he had personally gone bankrupt that would be a different matter. His business practices do nort seem unusual at all. pl
Oh I didn’t forget Colonel. Canada does it for her own reasons/purposes as well as on behalf of some “friends”.When I mentioned WE, I wanted to emphasize that not only the Five Eyes do it but also the allies.
Funny it’s only last month that some discovered via a 60 mins segment that the smart phone can be hacked via the SS7 network but those in the telecomm biz knew that, since its inception in the 1980’s, it is riddled with vulnerabilities. Some carriers even sell access to their SS7 networks to the spooks.
DSK was even surprised 5 years ago that the sitting govt at the Elysée Place , at that time, was able to monitor his phone conversations ( even the one provided by the IMF) 🙂
Nancy K,
So that GM Bankruptcy was questionable or just the Detroit one? Were the bailout’s repugnant behavior or only the gross malfeasance and in some cases outright criminal conduct that drove the later into that bankruptcy? Just curious since politicians didn’t run GM but they sure ran Detroit into the ground. You won’t have to search far in google to figure out which party and for how many decades. That conduct however pales in comparison to the conduct of the former secretary of state as it relates to handling of classified information that affects our national security.
I have four questions:
1) What did NSA know about Hillary’s email setup while she was Secretary of State?
2) What did they do about that knowledge?
3) Is the NSA IG looking into those questions, and if so,
will (a sanitized version of) his report be released to the public?
4) What is the legitimacy of former NSA executives, Michael Hayden for one,
publically carrying on about what a terrible thing her setup was,
how the communications of officials in her position are a prime target of all the peer competitors of the United States,
if their very organization was aware of what was going on at the time it was going on
and did nothing to stop it at that time?
Remember, security is NSA’s middle name.
Sir,
Keeping the FBI “under control” so he can decide what to do about the case; how – or if – to use it in some beneficial fashion? Or quash it when he’s ready? Or under control for some other purpose, like a thorough investigation/justice process?
Nanccccyyy,
People are more concerned with Hillary’s campaign platform of “we’re going to take your guns and import more violent foreigners” than they are stuff viewed through a mendacious lens. Also concerning is pictures of violent illegal aliens waving the Mexican flag while burning cop cars to prove that Mexican illegals aren’t violent short tempered criminals with no impulse control.
Trump is going to be president and it’s going,to be amazing. I hope you can be talked off the ledge lolllllllll
Any idea why he has not revealed any of the Clinton emails he read? Why is he keeping them secret?
As someone who works in the computer field, this smells like BS to me. He also claimed that he saw traces of other hackers, but the FBI didn’t?
Just remember these are the same sources that claimed that Clinton’s indictment was “imminent”, not just for this but for every scandal going back to whitewater. So I’d consider the source before going all in.
Keith,
Hilary worked at the discretion of the President. Why did he allow it and why is he keeping it secret?
Keith Harbaugh,
Despite its mission statement, the NSA never had its heart in the network defense mission. You would be surprised how little situational awareness the USG has about its own networks.
The Beaver,
I was also shocked with the 60 Minutes report as well. SS7 has been around for 40 years. Why all those vulnerabilities haven’t been patched is beyond me. If the SS7 design is that bad, it should have been replaced long ago. Telecom companies clearly don’t give a damn about security. I bet if hackers start screwing with the billing system, the telcos will change their tune.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/05/politics/fbi-interviews-huma-abedin-clinton-aide/index.html
“In addition, this week, a notorious hacker awaiting trial claimed he infiltrated Clinton’s server but law enforcement officials said the FBI investigation into Guccifer found no sign he got into the Clinton server according to law enforcement sources.”
Let’s let this play out.
Jonathan House,
I would have preferred Sanders. But if it had come down to Clinton v Cruz or Rubio or Kasich or Christie or Carson or any other Official Brand-Name Republican . . . I would have decided to vote for Clinton.
But now that it looks like Trump will be the nominee . . . vs Clinton . . . I will have a choice to make. At the moment Trump appears to offer a partial break with the Borg. But would he, as a profit-making bussinessman, understand running a strictly cost-center branch of Government? And would his advisers signal a cleaner break from the Borg than Clinton’s advisers will? Who would be his advisers anyway? And her advisers? etc. many such etceteras. . . .
Tyler wrote: ‘until Emperor DJT ascends to the presidency, that is’
Unfortunately, for you, there aren’t enough old, angry, white men for this to become a reality.
Tidewater to Nancy K,
Do you think that there is going to be a tremendous backlash from American women against Donald Trump?
Not only did Clinton use a private email server, but she was using an unsecured and unencrypted Blackberry to access it.
A smartphone connected to a malicious wifi network or cell tower can be taken over entirely. An attacker can steal all your data while streaming a video of the meeting you’re at. Imagine all the fun hackers around the world might have had.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much NSA can do against that.
TTG,
I concur. He stumbled across Sid’s email and the headers will include the IP address of HRC’s server. From there it’s an easy job to scan it for open port vulnerabilities. However, Guccifer’s MO was more in the order of social engineering which, I believe, is how he got access to Sid’s emails. He could be telling the truth or just making claims up as hackers like him are wont to do. However, it’s hard to believe state actors weren’t aware of the server.
Yes Colonel,
and by the way DT so far has only been in private business, aka self intersts.
not exactly the very official main occupation of the Clintons
and specially not of a Secretary of State.
Not entirely off topic since it’s about the “other side”.
I’ve got a funny suspicion (nasty me…), what if the miraculously opportune end of campaigning is actually meant to PREVENT Trump to get the quorum of delegates (no more primary voting) so that a more convenient “arrangement” can be found out of the total pool of delegates?
(I am not knowledgeable on the details of US presidential elections so this may be moot)
Guccifer, already in jail in Romania, was indicted in the US in June 2014 for hacking many high profile Americans including Colin Powell but was not extradited until this March. The timing indicates that there are powerful forces within the Federal Government that are out to get Hillary. FBI head James Comey, by the way, is a Republican. The plot thickens.
Emperor?
until even a fraction of a percent of the people in power learn the first thing about programing coding and how the internet works it will be a constant source of boondoggles and ridiculous stories such as 15 year old bypasses billions worth of security.
the only secure computer is one that has no connection to the internet.
“Evidence can be erased or modified in that time.”
I basically agree with you. But I am somewhat skeptic it would only need active sysadmin interference. The ideal point for an investigation would be the at the moment it occurs or shortly after without the system shut down or in any way cleaned, it feels. PC forensics is an interesting field though.
GCP,
Keep telling yourself there’s enough BLM idiots, transgender activists, illegal aliens, and other unamericans to stop him.
America is gonna be great again and all you can do is cry about it.
Mark,
Google image search God Emperor Trump for laughs.
Comey may be a Republican but he was appointed to head the FBI by Obama three years ago.
Tidewater, I am female, and I would like to stand in for American females here, fully aware of the “woman card” narrative.
Now ironically enough, I am not a fan of “Goldie”, additionally I have to refer to, I guess, an angle of the larger Borg:
>>”Clinton’s assessment that “great nations need organizing principles, and ‘Don’t do stupid stuff’ is not an organizing principle<< never mind my struggles in the larger context all the way back to Whitewater, this would effectively rule her out for me. And now I'll return to my reading-only-default, I promised to keep for a while.
Please, GCP, keep underestimating him. And keep thinking only ‘white males’ r the only ones interested. Please keep thinking that. And disseminating your thoughts.
The current odds in betfair etc suggest Trump has a 18% chance. I think these odds underestimate his chances for a number of reasons and believe the race will be quite close. But I don’t think you should assume this one is in the bag with those odds. Or rather, if you are sure you can make a lot of money with a bet.
Are you kidding me?
He was giving a speech in New York one time and all this women, young and old, were lined up to give him their business cards.
Women love successful powerful men; except Mitt Romney whom they hated because of the way he walked.
Peter,
“out to get Hillary.” or they are trying to stop the Borg, or the next generation of politicians from being equally stupid, or maybe just trying to enforce the law against people whose egregious conduct has harmed American national security.
“by the way, is a Republican.”
I believe his allegiance is to the Republic and not a particular political party. Is that any different for Hilary?
Dear Colonel, it seems worthwhile to note that the reason the hacker was in jail in Romania was for hacking (and getting caught) into Romanian politicos. To me this gives his story significant credibility.
Funny stuff, thanks.
jonst,
I’m not underestimating him. In fact, I won a couple of bets that he would end up the Republican nominee. His problem is the electorate as a whole is a much different entity than those voting in a Republican primary. Not to mention he has big problems in the electoral college.
And no, I’m not happy about Hillary. Not a fan just like I wasn’t a big fan of her husband. Things are set up better for her though when you look at the ‘big picture’.
Tyler,
Define ‘great’.
Obama golfs and relies on a tight inner circle. I’ve thought Obama was an empty suit since his famed 2004 DNC speech, and I’ve decided the vaunted Obama campaign strategy of “no drama, Obama” was a message he wouldn’t hear bad news. Does anyone except Republican leadership get near Obama who isn’t a disgusting sycophant?
This is a guy who just went to Flint to announce the filtered water is safe for kids over the age of six as if that was a success and then said bad attitudes are preventing growth or whatever nonsense Obama peddled.
What’s the alternative?
All, CNN is reporting today that FBI officials are saying that they have just about wrapped up their interviews and no criminal wrong doing has been discovered at this point. Much to do over nothing then?
How did he get caught by … the Romanians?
TTG,
Don’t you know that Putin is laughing to himself about the whole Hillary affair. Still Russia is very wary of Hillary and her anti-everything-Russian entourage should she manage to land the oval office posit.
Hillary would mean war and endless wars, that’s what the globalist want, to sap our US strength even more. Trump talking America-first appears to be scaring the bee-jeez out of the globalist types, as it would mean an end to their belly-up-to-the-hog-trough of endless US funds that they have become so accustomed to.
All:
US deputy national security advisor:
“Most of the outlets are reporting on world events from Washington. The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old, … They literally know nothing.”
http://www.businessinsider.com/ben-rhodes-obama-foreign-policy-interview-2016-5
Full Interview here:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/magazine/the-aspiring-novelist-who-became-obamas-foreign-policy-guru.html?referer=
He already said they weren’t keeping logs. He would have deleted the evidence of his penetration but didn’t need to as the feature was turned off. Open ports is just plain dumb. Clearly run by amateurs.
Perhaps it is because he sent her classified emails to her private email account making him guilty as well. If she goes down then he will need a pardon as well. Trump won’t be the one to do that (we assume) so he needs either Clinton or Biden to be his replacement. I am wondering if Huma is given immunity what she will say. Clearly someone is going to get tossed under the bus and there aren’t too many people in the loop available so she might be thinking about self preservation. I am enjoying it but expect that if it ever comes to an actual trial it will be merely a fine.
Yep, wait till after the Dem convention has given her the nomination and then release the juicy bits via ‘anonymous’.
DT has connected with some deeply felt yet unstated undercurrents present in the vast majority of non-elite Americans who believed, worked hard and sacrificed for worthy human ideals.
WW2 and decades afterwards were America’s glory years. After the assassination of JFK, most of the American leaders, except for Regan, have been blackmailed puppets of a certain group of elites, and the white Americans have been the cannon fodders. Their patriotism, and other altruistic intensions have been manipulated to make them impotent. They are still polite, but for how long will they remain compliant?
They are a humiliated population segment. They see they don’t own newspapers, TV stations, and their leaders have to get certain country’s approval before getting appointed or elected.
These patriots do not hate blacks or immigrants. They would like to make their country systematic, functioning and prosperous.
And they are done being owned by some else.
Harry,
The current odds six months out from the primary said Trump couldnt win either.
I made a very pretty penny betting those odds. Odds had Romney hearing Obama, McCain beating Obama, and Carter beating Reagan at this time.
6 months is an eternity.
TTG, my speculation (nothing more than that) on what happened is as follows:
Many people in the USG did take notice of what Hillary was doing, were concerned about her making her communications so accessible to so many parties in the world, and conveyed their concerns to whatever part of the NSA to which they had access.
The question is what NSA did with those concerns.
Stuff them in the circular file?
Or share in the concerns, and point out to the president, through the channels (ODNI and DOD) they have to him, the problems that are now being so gleefully outlined by such NSA alumni as Michael Hayden?
In particular, NSA has a liaison office at State, handling the various cryptologic issues that arise in diplomatic communications.
Did no one at State drop by the NSALO and pass on a “heads-up” about what Hillary was doing?
Hard to believe no one alerted NSA about this.
Yes, but of course not all women. Some religious conservative women might vote for him, women married to the supposedly angry white males, and Republican women who just do not want to see a Democrat or a women as president could vote for him. I think the majority of black, Hispanic ,white urban, and women over 30 will vote for Hillary. As for the younger female voter who favors Bernie, they may not vote for Hillary but they definitely will not vote for Donald. I so could be wrong however. This is a good time to be a Political Science teacher. It is definitely not a boring year.
GCP
Yeah Yeah yeah sure you did.
He has no big problems other than trying to figure out how to fit himself on Mount Rushmore. Meanwhile Big Grandma is running on a platform of “taking your guns, firing coal miners, black lives loot, and import more violent foreigners!”
A winning platform, but when you consider she’s also trying to hide her stroke from a few years ago and now she can’t speak without going into a coughing fit, I have to admit you convinced me; she has it in the bag.
GCP,
Whatever makes you cry the most the day after President Trump is inaugurated is a good start.
I would agree with Trump that the Democratic Party establishment will do their best to cover and whitewash the HRC’ server gate. An independent special commission should be requested to look in this matter.
Because the secret services want an easy to crack system. See for example GSM and their encryption which was purposefully weakened by the French.
My thoughts are that it’s not going to matter one bit that she won’t be indicted. Criminal intent is going to be hard to prove. But, as far as politics goes, Trump is going to be playing up the “crooked Hillary” angle and the anti-Hillary crowd will keep believing that she belongs in jail having gotten away with it. So, I don’t think it will affect the election much at all, no matter how it goes.
Tyler wrote: ‘He has no big problems other than trying to figure out how to fit himself on Mount Rushmore’
So in your world someone who advocates not paying our debts should be on Mount Rushmore?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-default-national-debt_us_572d08e3e4b096e9f0917fac
I’ll take a bet with you. Name it or shut up.
google ben rhodes – see what turns up.
it’s a freaking festival of high dudgeon!
NotTimothyGeithner,
He doesn’t want to upset the golden applecart coming his way. “Let me just sleeeeaze on out the side door here . . . ”
NTG,
There was plenty of pandering in that speech. You could make out the stench peculiar to that one as it mingled with the odorous scent of decaying factories. Of course he didn’t mention where all the jobs went. Maybe someone should have invited Michael Moore.
GCP,
Are you f-cking autistic? I know that HuffPaint writer is since he’s unable to discern what a rhetorical example is, and instead went into estrogen fueled hysterics.
I’ll leave the country if Hillary wins. Please kill yourself and film it for my eternal amusement when Trump ascends TIA.
Just trying to say that the current government is not a monolithic Democratic bloc and Comey is not owned by Team Clinton. Hillary has made many enemies and the knives are out. Could get interesting real soon.
You are certainly showing yourself to be the typical Trump supporter. Mostly rude and ignorant. Well done.
I’m still voting for Clinton. I would like to see a Clinton/Sanders ticket.
As a psych nurse for many years I know enough to stay away from ledges, however when Hillary wins I am willing to talk you off the ledge. Seriously if Trump wins so be it, I wouldn’t leave the country over it. I’m quite patriotic and don’t believe in leaving just because I don’t like who was chosen as president.
somewhere between 6% and 89%, depending on whom you talk to.
http://www.factcheck.org/2015/06/where-does-clinton-foundation-money-go/
GCP
As far as I know you haven’t burned any US flags or looted a CVS (recently) so you’re head and shoulders above the BLM/Hillary crowd.
I assume though from your lack of denial you are autustic AND you will take my bet?
Nancy,
Why would I be on the ledge? I get to carve my name into the tree of history during Civil War II when Hillary appoints a gay black Hispanic transgender illegal alien to SCOTUS who decides that Heller was a “rogue decision” and decides that that the 2A means “muskets” in a 5-4 decision. All while I am in my prime.
Of course You wouldn’t leave – Trump would make AMERICA great again, while Hillary wants us to be a 3rd World sewer full of peons competing with Bangladeshis for a bowl of rice a day. It wouldn’t be America.
Kooshy,
More than just the DP establishment will whitewash the “server thingie”. The entire Global Overclass Elite will be part of the whitewash. The International Free Trade Conspiracy will mobilize every sucker disc on every tentacle of the MSM to keep the “server thingie” whitewashed.
President Clinton is to be their Obama 2.0 and they are counting on that. They won’t let some server-deal trump a Clinton victory if they can help it.
WRT looking into this matter:
why would they do it now? the threat of some “special commission” would be more useful to help keep her on course after she was elected.