Feds Arrest Five Congressional IT Contractors At The Capitol

[blogslut]

Source: BuzzFeed

Five men who had access to the House of Representatives entire computer network were arrested in the Capitol Thursday evening following a months-long investigation by federal law enforcement officials, according to a lawmaker briefed on the raid.

At approximately 5 p.m. Thursday, five men who were working in the Capitol as IT contractors were arrested by law enforcement officials in the Longworth House Office building offices they use.

The Capitol police and the FBI did not respond to a request for comment.

According to the member, shortly after the chiefs of staff for 20 lawmakers were summoned to a closed door meeting with House Administration officials, who briefed them on the arrests. The chiefs were told the arrests came as part of a procurement scam, although officials acknowledged the men who staff were told were brothers had access to virtually all of the computer systems used by the affected lawmakers. Members were also told Thursday night to change the passwords to their email and other applications.

Read more: https://www.buzzfeed.com/johnstanton/feds-arrest-five-congressional-it-contractors-at-the-capitol?utm_term=.iuyVJ9p9r#.ylmObDQDd

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UPDATE FROM THE LINKED ARTICLE:

UPDATE: A lawmaker briefed on the matter had said House officials had told staff from affected offices that contractors had been arrested, but late Thursday night US Capitol Police spokesperson Eva Malecki told BuzzFeed News that no arrests have been made. The USCP is investigating House IT support staff.

[underpants]

1. Damn. I have to follow this one

Thanks

[nini]

2. Too bad they don't vet these types as closely as refugees

Our biggest threats come from the inside.

And yes.. I realize these guys were there under the last administration.

[Mr.Bill]

8. At the Capitol building, the "last administration" was the same as the current one.

Republicans.

[nini]

21. You are correct

Thanks for that

[Hekate]

3. ?

KnR

[Raine1967]

4. Any other sources?

This is fucked up on all accounts.

[ffr]

5. That would predate tRump's transition I would imagine.

WTF?

I want to know who they were spying on and what the FBI found.

[Raine1967]

6. Take this at face value. You all know the source:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/5-congressional-it-contractors-arrested-at-capitol-lawmakers-fear-email-theft/article/2613795

Five brothers who were working in the U.S. Capitol as IT contractors were arrested Thursday after a months-long investigation by federal law enforcement officials.

The men, who had access to the House of Representatives' entire computer network, were arrested in the Longworth House Office Building.

A lawmaker briefed on the arrests said members were told to change their passwords to their emails and other applications, BuzzFeed News reported.

"They said it was some sort of procurement scam, but now I'm concerned that they may have stolen data from us, emails, who knows," the lawmaker told BuzzFeed News.

[AgadorSparticus]

7. Yikes. You can bet there is more to come.

[HoneyBadger]

9. Brothers Karamazov?

[IronLionZion]

10. Things are getting weirder and weirder

I would think more news sources would have something on this, but they don't.

Because of the five guys (brothers?), maybe we can call this burgergate like pizzagate

[rusty fender]

12. Lolololol

Bravo

[IronLionZion]

14. In n out is for faster operations

[Glamrock]

16. Hey man!

Don't be bashin my Five Guys burgers! They're goddamned delicious! Nothing delicious bout this story.

[Javaman]

22. Great! now I'm hungry! Thanks!

[IronLionZion]

23. Oh yeah, I got one across the street from my office

and will probably end up there for lunch.

I'll diet when I'm dead!

[JoeOtterbein]

11. update at the link says they were not arrested, but they are investigating the two

[blogslut]

13. Thanks

I amended the original post.

[machoneman]

15. First step in breaking the Russia connection?

Interesting as the real reason is likely shaded by the FBI if this had anything to do with the Russkies, Trump, his old campaign staff and current advisors, like Bannon and Manafort.

[milestogo]

17. Working while Muslim?

[Tactical Peek]

18. More info - some details differ, not contrators, 4 men one woman etc

Five House employees are under criminal investigation amid allegations that they stole equipment from more than 20 member offices and accessed House IT systems without lawmakers' knowledge.

Access to the House network was terminated for the five employees — four men and a woman — on Thursday afternoon, but it’s up to individual lawmakers to fire the staffers in question, according to a senior House official. The official said most members are proceeding with termination.

...

The identities of the staffers are still unknown, but the official said they are shared House employees, meaning they work for multiple members, not contractors.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/house-staffers-investigation-equipment-234586

[BlancheSplanchnik]

19. YESSSSSSSS!!!!!

KILL IT by 1,000,000 slashes!


This news warms my heart!

[concreteblue]

20. I was only ten years old... but

Wasn't the first "news" of the Watergate scandal similar to this?
This could be good.....