Private photos of presidents George W. Bush, left, and his father George… (Evan Vucci/Associated…)
A hacker who goes by the name of Guccifer has reportedly compromised the email accounts of at least six people close to George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush and has distributed some of the private emails and photographs online.
The Smoking Gun published a report Thursday saying it had spoken with the hacker, who said he wasn't worried about the possibility of the FBI or Secret Service coming after him. Guccifer said the "feds" have been investigating him a long time and "this is just another chapter in the game.”
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Among the photographs allegedly posted online by the hacker were two showing President George W. Bush painting, and one with him and Ralph Lauren. President George H.W. Bush also appears in some of the photos, including a recent one of him in the hospital and another with President Clinton.
Some of the pictures came from the email accounts of Dorothy Bush Koch, George W. Bush's sister. The Smoking Gun said it called her about the hackings. She was shocked and responded “Why would someone do this?” the news website said.
But it wasn't just photos that were exposed. Information from emails were also shared, including a list from October that included the home addresses and phone numbers for dozens of Bush family relatives, according to The Smoking Gun.
There's also an email sent to the children of George H.W. Bush from his former Chief of Staff Jean Becker while the president was ill earlier this year. Becker told the children that the president's funeral team had met to plan out a service if it became necessary, The Smoking Gun said.
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Another email reportedly contained a personal message from President Obama sent by one of his aides to President George H.W. Bush, saying "Michelle and I haven’t wanted to impinge on you while you are recuperating, but please know that we are thinking of you and the entire family.”
The Associated Press is reporting that the FBI has launched a criminal investigation into the hacking of the private emails and photographs.
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