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Saudis hacked Amazon chief Jeff Bezos’s phone, says company's security adviser Saudis hacked Amazon chief Jeff Bezos’s phone, says company's security adviser
(about 13 hours later)
The security chief for Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos says the Saudi government had access to Bezos’s phone and gained private information from it. The security chief for Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon, says the Saudi government had access to Bezos’s phone and gained private information from it.
Gavin de Becker, a longtime security consultant, said he had concluded his investigation into the publication in January of leaked text messages between Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, a former television anchor who the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper said Bezos was dating. Gavin de Becker, Bezos’s longtime security consultant, said he had concluded his investigation into the publication in January of leaked text messages between Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, a former television anchor whom the US National Enquirer tabloid newspaper said Bezos was dating.
Shortly before their publication, Bezos had become the subject of tabloid stories after he and his wife MacKenzie, announced they were divorcing.Shortly before their publication, Bezos had become the subject of tabloid stories after he and his wife MacKenzie, announced they were divorcing.
Jeff Bezos accuses National Enquirer owner of 'extortion and blackmail'Jeff Bezos accuses National Enquirer owner of 'extortion and blackmail'
In February, Bezos accused the National Enquirer’s owner of trying to blackmail him with the threat of publishing “intimate photos” he allegedly sent to Sanchez unless he said in public that the tabloid’s reporting on him was not politically motivated. In February, Bezos accused the National Enquirer’s owner of trying to blackmail him with the threat of publishing “intimate text messages” he allegedly sent to Sanchez, unless he said in public that the tabloid’s reporting on him was not politically motivated.
In an article for The Daily Beast website, De Becker said the parent company of the National Enquirer, American Media Inc, had privately demanded De Becker deny finding any evidence of “electronic eavesdropping or hacking in their news gathering process”. In an article for The Daily Beast website, De Becker said the parent company of the National Enquirer, American Media Inc (AMI), had privately demanded De Becker deny finding any evidence of “electronic eavesdropping or hacking in their news-gathering process”.
“Our investigators and several experts concluded with high confidence that the Saudis had access to Bezos’s phone, and gained private information,” De Becker wrote. “As of today, it is unclear to what degree, if any, AMI was aware of the details.” “Our investigators and several experts concluded with high confidence that the Saudis had access to Bezos’ phone, and gained private information,” De Becker wrote. “As of today, it is unclear to what degree, if any, AMI was aware of the details.”
De Becker alleged Saudi Arabia has targeted the Washington Post, which is owned by Bezos, following the death last year of one of its columnists, Jamal Khashoggi, in Turkey. Khashoggi, a Saudi national, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. De Becker alleged Saudi Arabia has targeted the Washington Post, which is owned by Bezos, following the death last year in Turkey of Jamal Khashoggi, one of its columnists. Khashoggi, a Saudi national, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.
“Some Americans will be surprised to learn that the Saudi government has been very intent on harming Jeff Bezos since last October, when the Post began its relentless coverage of Khashoggi’s murder,” De Becker wrote.“Some Americans will be surprised to learn that the Saudi government has been very intent on harming Jeff Bezos since last October, when the Post began its relentless coverage of Khashoggi’s murder,” De Becker wrote.
Jeff Bezos accuses National Enquirer owner of 'extortion and blackmail'Jeff Bezos accuses National Enquirer owner of 'extortion and blackmail'
The CIA has concluded that Khashoggi’s murder was probably ordered by the powerful Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.The CIA has concluded that Khashoggi’s murder was probably ordered by the powerful Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
A spokesman for the Saudi embassy in Washington did not immediately return a request for comment. In February, the kingdom’s minister of state for foreign affairs said Saudi Arabia had “absolutely nothing to do” with the National Enquirer’s reporting on the affair. AMI denied De Becker’s claims in a statement on Sunday. It said: “Despite the false and unsubstantiated claims of Mr De Becker, American Media has, and continues to, refute the unsubstantiated claims that the materials for our report were acquired with the help of anyone other than the single source who first brought them to us … there was no involvement by any other third party whatsoever.”
A representative for AMI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AMI has previously said that it acted lawfully in the reporting of the Bezos story. “The fact of the matter is, it was [Lauren Sanchez’s brother] Michael Sanchez who tipped the National Enquirer off to the affair on 10 September 2018, and over the course of four months provided all of the materials for our investigation.
De Becker said he has turned over the findings of his investigation to US federal officials, without elaborating. “His continued efforts to discuss and falsely represent our reporting, and his role in it, has waived any source confidentiality.
The Saudi embassy in Washington has yet to comment on the latest allegations. In February, the kingdom’s minister of state for foreign affairs said Saudi Arabia had “absolutely nothing to do” with the National Enquirer’s reporting on the affair.
De Becker said he has turned over the findings of his investigation to US federal officials.
Reuters contributed to this reportReuters contributed to this report
Jeff BezosJeff Bezos
Amazon National Enquirer
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
Amazon
Jamal KhashoggiJamal Khashoggi
Mohammed bin Salman
Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
National Enquirer US press and publishing
newsnews
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