Former Democratic aide pleads guilty to "doxing" senators, including Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch

A former Democratic congressional staff member pleaded guilty to publishing private information about Republican senators on Wikipedia and threatening a witness who had surprised him on a computer in the office of another legislator.

Jackson Cosko, 27, of the District of Columbia, admitted Friday that he "harassed" the senators after getting angry with a senator, before getting angry with other senators while he was present at the hearing on the charges of sexual assault made at the time. Brett Kavanaugh, a court candidate, shows his plea agreement.

Cosko pleaded guilty to two counts of disclosure of personal information and to one count each of computer fraud, falsification of witnesses and obstruction of justice.

In his pleadings, he recognized the following senators: Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Mike Lee of Utah and Orrin Hatch of Utah, members of the GOP Government Judiciary Committee, and Senator Rand Paul of R-Ky. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. R-Ky.

Cosko's lawyer, Brian Stolarz, said in a statement: "Mr Cosko takes full responsibility for his actions and is sincerely remorseful, but Mr Cosko's constant struggle with drugs has contributed to unfortunate behavior and is determined to rehabilitate his life, his reputation, and address his addiction. "

Cosko was arrested on October 3 by US Capitol police, who said he was caught sneaking into the offices of Senator Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., After 10 pm. the night before and using the computer and the connection of an assistant, according to documents filed by the court.

Another collaborator recognized Cosko, ordered him to leave and called the police, the defendant said in his plea file.

A few minutes later, this wizard received a threatening e-mail with the subject line "I own everything" and a text stating, "If you say to someone I'm going to let everything filter, you send e-mails, health information and social gatherings of senators' children "papers.

Cosko, angry at being fired from Hassan's office in May, had "committed an extraordinarily bulky robbery" by repeatedly robbing the office, copying network drives and identifying sensitive information that he could possibly use, he admitted in court.

On September 27, Cosko "gets angry" by watching Kavanaugh's televised testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, then sentencing five senators by anonymously changing their Wikipedia pages to add phone numbers and addresses. personal, he admitted in court. The information was quickly removed after the discovery of the doxing and the authorities' contact with the authorities.

Data on three senators were published shortly before 6 pm On September 27 and on two others shortly before 6 pm Oct. 1, according to court filings.

The changes to Paul's page come after the senator asked for an investigation of previous publications and included the following statements: "He dares to ask for an investigation on ME?!?!?!?!?" and "I am the God of Gold", as well as "We are malicious and hostile" and "Send us bitcoins".

The five federal charges against which Cosko pleaded guilty are punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

According to an advocacy agreement, prosecutors said that a range of sentences ranging from 46 to 57 months was applied according to federal guidelines. Cosko's defense stated that the applicable advisory range would be between 30 and 37 months. Both parties agreed that Cosko could not claim less than two years.

US District Judge Thomas Hogan of the District of Columbia accepted the plea and sentenced to 13 June. Cosko has served approximately four months in prison since being indicted.