US ‘Investigating Military Officer Over Stuxnet Leaks’
US has never admitted to making Stuxnet, but is still investigating those who leaked information on the malware
A former high ranking officer of the US military is being investigated over leaks about the super-worm Stuxnet, which hit Iranian nuclear facilities during the late 2000s, according to a report.
Last yearsources said Stuxnet was the work of the US and Israel governments. The US never denied it was behind Stuxnet, but also never admitted it.
Stuxnet whistleblowers
However, it is believed the Obama administration has prosecuted or charged eight people under the Espionage Act for leaks relating to the malware.
And now retired marine general James Cartwright has received a letter informing him of an investigation into whether he was a whistleblower, according to legal sources speaking to NBC News.
Last year, the New York Times claimed Cartwright was the lead of the Olympic Games operation, the cyber campaign that was started under President Bush and continued under Obama.
The Obama administration has taken a zero-tolerance approach to dealing with those leaking sensitive information, as shown in the hunt for the National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden, who has released troves of documents related to mass surveillance of people’s communications.
No decision has yet been made to charge Cartwright, according to one source. There has been no comment from Cartwright’s corner either.
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