| Subject: Re: docs I have |
| From: Michael Hastings <mhastings@gmail.com> |
| Date: 4/24/12, 21:26 |
| To: Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> |
Well enough. Just trying to do as much damage as I can to the
companies that started this conflict before they inevitably win.
On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 5:29 PM, Michael Hastings <mhastings@gmail.com> wrote:
> Awesome, fixed it.
>
> On a personal aside: how are you doing?
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 6:24 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> The website isn't called Project PM; it's called Echelon2. Project PM
>> is the group I founded in 2009, and which has worked with Anonymous
>> activists and other journalists to research data taken from
>> intelligence contractors.
>>
>> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 5:20 PM, Michael Hastings <mhastings@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> > Hey Barrett:
>> >
>> > Thanks for the docs on this one. Let me know if there are any fuckups in
>> > the
>> > post. I'm going tweet it out soon.
>> >
>> > Here it is:
>> >
>> >
>> > http://www.buzzfeed.com/mhastings/exclusive-fbi-escalates-war-on-anonymous
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 6:09 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>
>> > wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Okay, sounds good.
>> >>
>> >> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 5:08 PM, Michael Hastings <mhastings@gmail.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >> > Cool--I have line where I say that they are looking for info on
>> >> > private
>> >> > intelligence contracting firms HBGary and Endgames systems, and two
>> >> > companies I say you clashed with them and criticized them on a
>> >> > website
>> >> > you
>> >> > founded, Project PM.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 6:00 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>
>> >> > wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Heh, that was two years ago. I'm 30 now.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 4:59 PM, Michael Hastings
>> >> >> <mhastings@gmail.com>
>> >> >> wrote:
>> >> >> > Cool, great, thanks. You're 28 right?
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 5:46 PM, Barrett Brown
>> >> >> > <barriticus@gmail.com>
>> >> >> > wrote:
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Make sure to mention Endgame Systems, HBGary, and our
>> >> >> >> Echelon2.org
>> >> >> >> wiki being listed on the warrant, as that's an angle I need
>> >> >> >> people
>> >> >> >> to
>> >> >> >> understand. My statement:
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> "I haven't been charged with anything at this point, although
>> >> >> >> there's
>> >> >> >> a sealed affidavit to which neither I nor my attorney have
>> >> >> >> access. I
>> >> >> >> suspect that the FBI is working off of incorrect information."
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 4:28 PM, Michael Hastings
>> >> >> >> <mhastings@gmail.com>
>> >> >> >> wrote:
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > Hey man--thanks for this. We've redacted the documents, and I'm
>> >> >> >> > basically doing a quick write up explaining how the Feds raided
>> >> >> >> > your
>> >> >> >> > place
>> >> >> >> > searching for info on Anon and Lulzec, then we're just going to
>> >> >> >> > post
>> >> >> >> > the
>> >> >> >> > search warrant.
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > For legal reasons, I need a straightforward comment from
>> >> >> >> > you--as
>> >> >> >> > in,
>> >> >> >> > do
>> >> >> >> > you deny wrong doing that the FBI is accusing you of or
>> >> >> >> > something
>> >> >> >> > along
>> >> >> >> > those lines.
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 5:24 PM, Barrett Brown
>> >> >> >> > <barriticus@gmail.com>
>> >> >> >> > wrote:
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> Over a year ago, it was revealed that the federal contractors
>> >> >> >> >> HBGary
>> >> >> >> >> Federal, Palantir, Berico, and Endgame Systems had combined
>> >> >> >> >> forces
>> >> >> >> >> to create
>> >> >> >> >> a sort of cyber-offense unit called Team Themis. With the
>> >> >> >> >> assistance
>> >> >> >> >> of the
>> >> >> >> >> law firm Hunton & Williams, they went about collecting
>> >> >> >> >> potential
>> >> >> >> >> clients,
>> >> >> >> >> including two institutions which desired to go on the
>> >> >> >> >> offensive
>> >> >> >> >> against
>> >> >> >> >> certain activist groups. One of these institutions, the
>> >> >> >> >> Chamber
>> >> >> >> >> of
>> >> >> >> >> Commerce,
>> >> >> >> >> provided them with the names of various individuals believed
>> >> >> >> >> to
>> >> >> >> >> be
>> >> >> >> >> involved
>> >> >> >> >> with groups that opposed their policies, and asked them to
>> >> >> >> >> come
>> >> >> >> >> up
>> >> >> >> >> with a
>> >> >> >> >> plan by which to discredit them. This was one of the options
>> >> >> >> >> that
>> >> >> >> >> Team
>> >> >> >> >> Themis came up:
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> Create a false document, perhaps highlighting periodical
>> >> >> >> >> financial
>> >> >> >> >> information, and monitor to see if U.S. Chamber Watch acquires
>> >> >> >> >> it.
>> >> >> >> >> Afterward, present explicit evidence that such transactions
>> >> >> >> >> never
>> >> >> >> >> occurred.
>> >> >> >> >> Also, create a fake insider persona and generate
>> >> >> >> >> communications
>> >> >> >> >> with
>> >> >> >> >> CtW.
>> >> >> >> >> Afterward, release the actual documents at a specified time
>> >> >> >> >> and
>> >> >> >> >> explain the
>> >> >> >> >> activity as a CtW contrived operation. Both instances will
>> >> >> >> >> prove
>> >> >> >> >> that
>> >> >> >> >> Chamber Watch cannot be trusted with information and/or tell
>> >> >> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> >> truth.
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> In the eyes of the Justice Department, this sort of thing does
>> >> >> >> >> not
>> >> >> >> >> constitute even probable cause of criminal activity on the
>> >> >> >> >> part
>> >> >> >> >> of
>> >> >> >> >> any of
>> >> >> >> >> the individuals involved, or their companies, or the various
>> >> >> >> >> other
>> >> >> >> >> employees
>> >> >> >> >> who viewed these kinds proposals. I say this because no one
>> >> >> >> >> involved
>> >> >> >> >> has had
>> >> >> >> >> their apartment door knocked down and their equipment and
>> >> >> >> >> notes
>> >> >> >> >> seized by
>> >> >> >> >> the FBI, as I have. The fact that Team Themis also discussed
>> >> >> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> >> option of
>> >> >> >> >> hacking the servers of Wikileaks, and engaging in a campaign
>> >> >> >> >> of
>> >> >> >> >> intimidation
>> >> >> >> >> against the journalist Glenn Greenwald due to his support of
>> >> >> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> >> organization, does not seem to generate much activity over at
>> >> >> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> >> DoJ or
>> >> >> >> >> FBI, either. Perhaps this is because these latter measures
>> >> >> >> >> were
>> >> >> >> >> proposed for
>> >> >> >> >> another of Team Themis' prospective clients, Bank of America,
>> >> >> >> >> and
>> >> >> >> >> that Bank
>> >> >> >> >> of America first got in touch with Team Themis and Hunton &
>> >> >> >> >> Williams
>> >> >> >> >> after
>> >> >> >> >> they were recommended to them by the Justice Department
>> >> >> >> >> itself.
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> The call for a Congressional inquiry into this matter was shot
>> >> >> >> >> down
>> >> >> >> >> by
>> >> >> >> >> Rep. Lamar Smith. His reasoning was that the Justice
>> >> >> >> >> Department
>> >> >> >> >> is
>> >> >> >> >> best
>> >> >> >> >> equipped to decide if any investigation is warranted in this
>> >> >> >> >> instance. I
>> >> >> >> >> would tend to disagree with that insomuch as that they helped
>> >> >> >> >> to
>> >> >> >> >> put
>> >> >> >> >> these
>> >> >> >> >> activities in motion.
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> At any rate, the FBI is now searching through my belongings
>> >> >> >> >> for
>> >> >> >> >> information on HBGary, Endgame Systems, and the website that
>> >> >> >> >> my
>> >> >> >> >> group
>> >> >> >> >> Project PM maintains for the purpose of disseminating info on
>> >> >> >> >> such
>> >> >> >> >> firms as
>> >> >> >> >> these, Echelon2.org. They will find quite a bit of information
>> >> >> >> >> on
>> >> >> >> >> all of
>> >> >> >> >> these things. They will also find further evidence of
>> >> >> >> >> wrongdoing
>> >> >> >> >> on
>> >> >> >> >> the part
>> >> >> >> >> of other "security contractors" who posted pictures of what
>> >> >> >> >> they
>> >> >> >> >> believed
>> >> >> >> >> to be my apartment so that, as one of them put it, the Zeta
>> >> >> >> >> drug
>> >> >> >> >> cartel
>> >> >> >> >> would know which house I lived in (http://twicsy.com/i/6dHfX).
>> >> >> >> >> They
>> >> >> >> >> will
>> >> >> >> >> find the name of the contractor in question; they will find
>> >> >> >> >> screen
>> >> >> >> >> shots
>> >> >> >> >> showing that he has ties to the former CEO of HBGary Federal.
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> But they will not choose to investigate those sorts of things.
>> >> >> >> >> The
>> >> >> >> >> state has friends, and the state has enemies.
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 3:18 PM, Michael Hastings
>> >> >> >> >> <mhastings@gmail.com>
>> >> >> >> >> wrote:
>> >> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >> >>> Great, thanks very much.
>> >> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >> >>> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 4:11 PM, Barrett Brown
>> >> >> >> >>> <barriticus@gmail.com>
>> >> >> >> >>> wrote:
>> >> >> >> >>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>> Yep, you can do so. Let me provide a statement to go along
>> >> >> >> >>>> with
>> >> >> >> >>>> them,
>> >> >> >> >>>> I'll send in a second.
>> >> >> >> >>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 3:09 PM, Michael Hastings
>> >> >> >> >>>> <mhastings@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> >> >> >>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>> Hey man--can we say we are publishing these as an
>> >> >> >> >>>>> exclusive.
>> >> >> >> >>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>> Holy shit. The feds aren't fucking around, hunh?
>> >> >> >> >>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>> On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 4:02 PM, Barrett Brown
>> >> >> >> >>>>> <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> >> >> >>>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> Here are the search warrants that I was provided by the
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> FBI
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> when
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> they raided my apartment and then my mother's residence.
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> If
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> you
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> do run them,
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> please block out the addresses.
>> >> >> >> >>>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> From: Tom Mills <tmills@millsandwilliams.com>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> Date: Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 2:57 PM
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> Subject: docs I have
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> To: Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> Cc: Tom Mills <tmills@millsandwilliams.com>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> --
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> Regards,
>> >> >> >> >>>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> Barrett Brown
>> >> >> >> >>>>>> 940-735-9748
>> >> >> >> >>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>> --
>> >> >> >> >>>>> Michael Hastings
>> >> >> >> >>>>> BuzzFeed Correspondent 2012
>> >> >> >> >>>>> Rolling Stone Contributing Editor
>> >> >> >> >>>>> mhastings@gmail.com
>> >> >> >> >>>>> Office: 646-388-1062
>> >> >> >> >>>>> International Mobile: +1-212-945-8073
>> >> >> >> >>>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>> --
>> >> >> >> >>>> Regards,
>> >> >> >> >>>>
>> >> >> >> >>>> Barrett Brown
>> >> >> >> >>>> 940-735-9748
>> >> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >> >>> --
>> >> >> >> >>> Michael Hastings
>> >> >> >> >>> BuzzFeed Correspondent 2012
>> >> >> >> >>> Rolling Stone Contributing Editor
>> >> >> >> >>> mhastings@gmail.com
>> >> >> >> >>> Office: 646-388-1062
>> >> >> >> >>> International Mobile: +1-212-945-8073
>> >> >> >> >>>
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> --
>> >> >> >> >> Regards,
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> Barrett Brown
>> >> >> >> >> 940-735-9748
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > --
>> >> >> >> > Michael Hastings
>> >> >> >> > BuzzFeed Correspondent 2012
>> >> >> >> > Rolling Stone Contributing Editor
>> >> >> >> > mhastings@gmail.com
>> >> >> >> > Office: 646-388-1062
>> >> >> >> > International Mobile: +1-212-945-8073
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> --
>> >> >> >> Regards,
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Barrett Brown
>> >> >> >> 940-735-9748
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > --
>> >> >> > Michael Hastings
>> >> >> > BuzzFeed Correspondent 2012
>> >> >> > Rolling Stone Contributing Editor
>> >> >> > mhastings@gmail.com
>> >> >> > Office: 646-388-1062
>> >> >> > International Mobile: +1-212-945-8073
>> >> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> Regards,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Barrett Brown
>> >> >> 940-735-9748
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > Michael Hastings
>> >> > BuzzFeed Correspondent 2012
>> >> > Rolling Stone Contributing Editor
>> >> > mhastings@gmail.com
>> >> > Office: 646-388-1062
>> >> > International Mobile: +1-212-945-8073
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Regards,
>> >>
>> >> Barrett Brown
>> >> 940-735-9748
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Michael Hastings
>> > BuzzFeed Correspondent 2012
>> > Rolling Stone Contributing Editor
>> > mhastings@gmail.com
>> > Office: 646-388-1062
>> > International Mobile: +1-212-945-8073
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>>
>> Barrett Brown
>> 940-735-9748
>
>
>
>
> --
> Michael Hastings
> BuzzFeed Correspondent 2012
> Rolling Stone Contributing Editor
> mhastings@gmail.com
> Office: 646-388-1062
> International Mobile: +1-212-945-8073
>
--
Regards,
Barrett Brown
940-735-9748