FBI probes if News Corp hackers targeted victims and families of 9/11 World Trade Centre attacks
The notion is barely credible - but the FBI is investigating anyway. We have to hope that this is one story that CANNOT be true
The Los Angeles Times said the decision by the FBI's field office in New York to launch the criminal probe came after a number of members of Congress raised concerns in letters to FBI headquarters.
The congressmen asked if reporters for News Corp may have tried to hack into the mobiles of Sept. 11 victims, just as they reportedly hacked into the phones of many people in Britain, particularly victims of the tube bombings.
"We are doing this based on their requests," an FBI source told the LA Times. He said the investigation was just getting under way. "But after reviewing the letters and their allegations, and after consultation with the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York, we are proceeding."
No clue is given to the nature of these concerns and whether the poliiticians had received any specific complaints.
At the Department of Justice, officials said they were "reviewing" allegations by Republican New York congressman Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and others that Sept. 11 victims and families may have been put at risk by News Corp.
"If these allegations are proven true," King wrote in his letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller,"the conduct would merit felony charges for attempting to violate various federal statutes related to corruption of public officials and prohibitions against wiretapping.
"Any person found guilty of this purported conduct should receive the harshest sanctions available under law."
The FBI source added that "ultimately the decision on how far this will go will be decided by the Department of Justice."