Panama Papers' Source Explains Motivation Behind Leak

[Judi Lynn]

Source: ABC News

Panama Papers' Source Explains Motivation Behind Leak

SUSANNA KIM

Updated 2 hrs 32 mins ago

The source who leaked confidential information included in the so-called Panama Papers has come forward to explain why the documents were released and that more information could come.

The source used the name John Doe last year when contacting German newspaper S?ddeutsche Zeitung. John Doe's 1,800-word statement was released today by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, a worldwide network of reporters who team up on in-depth investigative stories.

"Income inequality is one of the defining issues of our time," the statement begins, asking why its "sudden acceleration" has many people "helpless to stop its steady growth."

"The Panama Papers provide a compelling answer to these questions: massive, pervasive corruption," John Doe writes.


Read more: http://abc7ny.com/news/panama-papers-source-explains-motivation-behind-leak-/1326974/

[Judi Lynn]

1. 'Why? And Why Now?' Panama Papers 'John Doe' Steps Out of Shadows

Published on Friday, May 06, 2016

by Common Dreams

'Why? And Why Now?' Panama Papers 'John Doe' Steps Out of Shadows

Anonymous whistleblower says "Panama Papers are, if nothing else, a glaring symptom of our society's progressively diseased and decaying moral fabric."

by Deirdre Fulton, staff writer

The anonymous source behind the Panama Papers stepped out of the shadows on Friday to offer justification for what has been called the biggest leak in history.

The whistleblower's gender and name remain secret, as does their occupation. German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, the leaker's initial contact, has authenticated that the statement came from the Panama Papers source.

"For the record, I do not work for any government or intelligence agency, directly or as a contractor, and I never have," wrote John Doe. "My viewpoint is entirely my own, as was my decision to share the documents with Süddeutsche Zeitung and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), not for any specific political purpose, but simply because I understood enough about their contents to realize the scale of the injustices they described."

A searing critique of widespread wealth and income inequality, the 1,800-word missive decries "America's broken campaign finance system" and denounces capitalism as "economic slavery."

More:
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/05/06/why-and-why-now-panama-papers-john-doe-steps-out-shadows

[Judi Lynn]

2. Panama Papers: Source breaks silence on Mossack Fonseca leaks

Panama Papers: Source breaks silence on Mossack Fonseca leaks

5 hours ago

The anonymous source behind the leak of the Panama Papers has spoken for the first time, offering to help law authorities make prosecutions in return for immunity.

In a 1,800-word statement, "John Doe" reveals he has never worked for a spy agency or a government.

He starts the statement by citing "income equality" as a motive.

The Panama Papers have shown how some wealthy people use offshore firms to evade tax and avoid sanctions.

More:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36232142