Jackson Cosko, a 27-year-old grad student and cybersecurity expert who worked for several Democratic lawmakers, was charged with several felonies in connection with a doxxing incident involving GOP senators.
Cosko allegedly posted the personal information of several Republicans on their Wikipedia page.
He was charged with publishing restricted personal information, threats in interstate communication, unauthorized access of a government computer, identity theft, witness tampering, second-degree burglary, and unlawful entry.
According to a sworn statement by Capitol Police Captain Jason Bell, a witness Tuesday saw Cosko at a computer in a senator’s office, where he used to work, a day after two other unnamed senators’ information had been put on Wikipedia. Cosko worked for other Democratic senators including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and former Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. While earlier reports identified Cosko as an intern for Jackson Lee, his lawyer said that he was working as a fellow in her office, paid by an outside institution.
Sources familiar with the case tell Fox News Cosko was in Sen. Hassan’s office, where he was not authorized to be and was caught using a login he was not authorized to use. Cosko earlier was let go by Senator Hassan’s office. A spokesman for Hassan says she “strongly denounces the alleged actions.”
According to Bell’s statement, Cosko is alleged to have been confronted by the staffer and then walked out. The staffer then called police. Hours later the witness received an email from “[email protected]” saying: “If you tell anyone I will leak it all. Emails signal conversations gmails. Senators children’s health information and socials.”
The doxxing is bad enough, but does anyone else find it strange that Cosko was able to waltz into a senator’s office and use a computer and login without anyone’s authorization?
The suspect’s lawyer assures us he was acting alone:
Cosko’s defense attorney, Brian Stolarz, told Fox News his client acted alone.
“We all need to take a deep breath,” said Stolarz. “In this political climate everyone wants to jump to conclusions. We need to put the conspiracy theories aside and focus on the allegations. Jackson Cosko is innocent until proven guilty, and we intend to challenge the charges.”
I don’t want to jump to conclusions. I just want a few answers to some simple questions, like what was Cosko working on when he was caught and how did he get access to a computer in a senator’s office?
Posting personal information is a direct threat — especially in these hyperpartisan times where hysteria dominates and people feel perfectly justified in threatening the life and safety of politicians and their families. The charges against Cosko could result in him getting 20 years of jail time.
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