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Secret Service investigates reported theft of Romney tax files,
Secret Service investigates reported theft of Romney tax files, $1 million extortion threatFRANKLIN, Tenn. —
The Secret Service said Wednesday it is investigating the reported theft of copies of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s federal tax records during a break-in at an accounting office in Franklin. Someone claiming responsibility demanded $1 million not to make them public.
An anonymous letter sent to Romney’s accounting firm and political offices in Tennessee and published online sought $1 million in hard-to-trace Internet currency to prevent the disclosure of his tax filings, which have emerged as a key focus during the 2012 presidential race. Romney released his 2010 tax returns and a 2011 estimate in January, but he has refused to disclose his returns from earlier years.
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Romney’s accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said there was no evidence that any Romney tax files were stolen.
“At this time there is no evidence that our systems have been compromised or that there was any unauthorized access to the data in question,” PricewaterhouseCoopers spokesman Chris Atkins said.
In Washington, Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan confirmed the agency was investigating. The Romney campaign declined to comment, referring all questions to the accounting firm.
Franklin police said there were no recent alarms or break-ins reported at the site. “We’ve had nothing from that address in August,” Police Lt. Charles J. Warner said.
There was no sign of forced entry at the five-story building that housed the accounting firm’s local office, not far from the Cool Springs Galleria, a large mall about 20 miles south of Nashville.
The building does not restrict access during business hours and has no guard. Access to the doors and elevators appear to be controlled by keycard. A spokeswoman for the building manager, Spectrum Properties, said the company would not speculate on the burglary claim.
“All of the tenants operate independently and the building is highly secured,” the spokeswoman, Beth Courtney, said.
The data theft was claimed in letters left with political party offices in Franklin and disclosed in several Tennessee-area newspapers. Jean Barwick, the executive director of the Williamson County Republic Party, said employees in the GOP office found a small package on Friday with a hand-written address. The package contained a letter and a computer flash drive, she said.
An anonymous posting on a file-sharing website said the returns were stolen Aug. 25 from the accounting firm’s office. After “all available 1040 tax forms for Romney were copied,” the posting said, flash drives containing encrypted copies of his pre-2010 tax records were sent to the firm and to Republican and Democratic party offices.
Barwick said she turned over the materials to the Secret Service. She said she was not able to confirm that copies of any tax returns were stored on the flash drive
The group threatened to divulge the tax files by late September unless it was paid $1 million.
___
Braun reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Alicia A. Caldwell in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/secret-service-investigates-reported-theft-of-romney-tax-files-1-million-extortion-threat/2012/09/05/b092b3b0-f7a0-11e1-a93b-7185e3f88849_story.html?tid=pm_politics_pop
The Secret Service said Wednesday it is investigating the reported theft of copies of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s federal tax records during a break-in at an accounting office in Franklin. Someone claiming responsibility demanded $1 million not to make them public.
An anonymous letter sent to Romney’s accounting firm and political offices in Tennessee and published online sought $1 million in hard-to-trace Internet currency to prevent the disclosure of his tax filings, which have emerged as a key focus during the 2012 presidential race. Romney released his 2010 tax returns and a 2011 estimate in January, but he has refused to disclose his returns from earlier years.
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Romney’s accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said there was no evidence that any Romney tax files were stolen.
“At this time there is no evidence that our systems have been compromised or that there was any unauthorized access to the data in question,” PricewaterhouseCoopers spokesman Chris Atkins said.
In Washington, Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan confirmed the agency was investigating. The Romney campaign declined to comment, referring all questions to the accounting firm.
Franklin police said there were no recent alarms or break-ins reported at the site. “We’ve had nothing from that address in August,” Police Lt. Charles J. Warner said.
There was no sign of forced entry at the five-story building that housed the accounting firm’s local office, not far from the Cool Springs Galleria, a large mall about 20 miles south of Nashville.
The building does not restrict access during business hours and has no guard. Access to the doors and elevators appear to be controlled by keycard. A spokeswoman for the building manager, Spectrum Properties, said the company would not speculate on the burglary claim.
“All of the tenants operate independently and the building is highly secured,” the spokeswoman, Beth Courtney, said.
The data theft was claimed in letters left with political party offices in Franklin and disclosed in several Tennessee-area newspapers. Jean Barwick, the executive director of the Williamson County Republic Party, said employees in the GOP office found a small package on Friday with a hand-written address. The package contained a letter and a computer flash drive, she said.
An anonymous posting on a file-sharing website said the returns were stolen Aug. 25 from the accounting firm’s office. After “all available 1040 tax forms for Romney were copied,” the posting said, flash drives containing encrypted copies of his pre-2010 tax records were sent to the firm and to Republican and Democratic party offices.
Barwick said she turned over the materials to the Secret Service. She said she was not able to confirm that copies of any tax returns were stored on the flash drive
The group threatened to divulge the tax files by late September unless it was paid $1 million.
___
Braun reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Alicia A. Caldwell in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/secret-service-investigates-reported-theft-of-romney-tax-files-1-million-extortion-threat/2012/09/05/b092b3b0-f7a0-11e1-a93b-7185e3f88849_story.html?tid=pm_politics_pop
I've got decryption software on MY computer, than can break just about any kind of encrytion you throw my way.
That said, I'm sure with the full might of the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc, etc on their side, SOMEONE in the DNC can crack that code!
I, for one, would LOVE to see what old Mitt's has hiding in his closet!!!
That said, I'm sure with the full might of the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc, etc on their side, SOMEONE in the DNC can crack that code!
I, for one, would LOVE to see what old Mitt's has hiding in his closet!!!
When I first read this, I sincerely thought it was made up. Then I heard it on CNN. No one is sure what to make of it all and the Romney campaign aint commenting. They got 3 weeks to pay the money and if and when they do, the key needed to release or uncrypt the information will be destroyed. Now Im sure someone in our government can unlock that file? Im not sure what to make of this.
"...flash drives containing encrypted copies of his pre-2010 tax records were sent to the firm and to Republican and Democratic party offices..."
So if the files were set to the Democratic party offices, then I don't see that this is an issue. His tax records are now firmly in the hands of the Democratic party (offices), which is what the Left wanted.
Am I missing something?
So if the files were set to the Democratic party offices, then I don't see that this is an issue. His tax records are now firmly in the hands of the Democratic party (offices), which is what the Left wanted.
Am I missing something?
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