wikileaks - The Black Vault

Former FBI Director James Comey Emails About Wikileaks

John Greenewald — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 12:47:11 +0000

The following documents were released by the FBI in FOIA case 1355208-000. The original request was for:

“…a copy of records, electronic or otherwise, of all e-mails sent to or from, Director of the FBI James Comey, which contain the word “WIKILEAKS”. I ask that you conduct a search for records dating from 1/1/15 to the date of the processing of this request.”

The case took more than 7 years to process, and the released results were admittedly not too interesting. What was more interesting was that they found 160 pages, but only released 17.

You can find what was released below.

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Former FBI Director James Comey Emails About Wikileaks [24 Pages, 2MB]

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Mystery Behind Wikileaks and the “Secret US Base on Moon” Destroyed By the Soviet Union Solved

John Greenewald — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:02:50 +0000

This is the listing within Wikileaks, showing the “Report That UR Destroyed Secret US Base on Moon” reference.

For more than four years, a Wikileaks document within their “Global Intelligence Files” has sparked much controversy. This record, listed as being from the Department of State Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, held the title, “REPORT THAT UR DESTROYED SECRET US BASE ON MOON.” But, no digital copy could be downloaded, since an electronic version was not available. Now, two years after the first request was filed, The Black Vault was able to get the actual document released officially through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in its entirety.

Samuel L. Devine

Since this record was first posted in the Wikileaks database and discovered by those who peruse the site, much speculation has circulated about what it truly meant. However, now that it is revealed, it shows that it was simply a response letter to a 1979 inquiry by the then, House of Representatives member Samuel Devine.

Per the response letter sent to Devine, Douglas J. Bennett, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations with the State Department, had responded to Devine stating there was no truth the rumor the Soviet Union “destroyed a secret US base on the moon in 1977.” Clearly, Devine had received a letter from a constituent by the name of Ceyd Quentin Arbogast, who asked about what he referred to as the “Battle of the Harvest Moon.”

The Black Vault’s FOIA request was first sent to the State Department in 2019 (case F-2020-01231). After some time, it was then recommended it be filed to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) where the document was more likely to be held given the timeframe it was from. After a new case was filed (case #21-49400), it was found, reviewed, and released to The Black Vault in full on September 8, 2021.

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The post Mystery Behind Wikileaks and the “Secret US Base on Moon” Destroyed By the Soviet Union Solved first appeared on The Black Vault.

WikiLeaks Release of Classified Documents from a Department of State Database – Situational Awareness Report 2010-SA-0025

John Greenewald — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 16:12:27 +0000

Background

This is the U.S. Cyber Command Situational Awareness Report on the Wikileaks release of classified information.

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WikiLeaks Release of Classified Documents from a Department of State Database – Situational Awareness Report 2010-SA-0025 [8 Pages, 3.5MB] – This version was released after a 2020 Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) request.

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WikiLeaks Release of Classified Documents from a Department of State Database – Situational Awareness Report 2010-SA-0025 – HIGHLIGHTED VERSION – [8 Pages, 3.5MB] – This version was released after a 2020 Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) request.

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Archived Versions

WlkiLeaks Release of Classified Documents from a Department of State Database – Situational Awareness Report 2010-SA-0025 – 2018 Release – [8 Pages, 2.2MB]

The post WikiLeaks Release of Classified Documents from a Department of State Database – Situational Awareness Report 2010-SA-0025 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Julian Assange Indictment – WikiLeaks Founder Charged in Computer Hacking Conspiracy

John Greenewald — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 23:08:18 +0000

Background

Julian P. Assange, 47, the founder of WikiLeaks, was arrested today in the United Kingdom pursuant to the U.S./UK Extradition Treaty, in connection with a federal charge of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion for agreeing to break a password to a classified U.S. government computer.

According to court documents unsealed today, the charge relates to Assange’s alleged role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States.

The indictment alleges that in March 2010, Assange engaged in a conspiracy with Chelsea Manning, a former intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army, to assist Manning in cracking a password stored on U.S. Department of Defense computers connected to the Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNet), a U.S. government network used for classified documents and communications. Manning, who had access to the computers in connection with her duties as an intelligence analyst, was using the computers to download classified records to transmit to WikiLeaks. Cracking the password would have allowed Manning to log on to the computers under a username that did not belong to her. Such a deceptive measure would have made it more difficult for investigators to determine the source of the illegal disclosures.

During the conspiracy, Manning and Assange engaged in real-time discussions regarding Manning’s transmission of classified records to Assange. The discussions also reflect Assange actively encouraging Manning to provide more information. During an exchange, Manning told Assange that “after this upload, that’s all I really have got left.” To which Assange replied, “curious eyes never run dry in my experience.”

Assange is charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger for the Eastern District of Virginia and Assistant Director in Charge Nancy McNamara of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement after the charges were unsealed. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kellen S. Dwyer, Thomas W. Traxler and Gordon D. Kromberg, and Trial Attorneys Matthew R. Walczewski and Nicholas O. Hunter of the Justice Department’s National Security Division are prosecuting the case.

The extradition will be handled by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

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Julian Assange Indictment [7 Pages, 0.6MB]

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