Romania to extradite hacker 'Guccifer,' who first revealed Clinton's private email
Romania has agreed to extradite hacker Marcel Lazăr Lehel, or "Guccifer," to the United States following 2014 charges by a U.S. federal grand jury for wire fraud, unauthorized access to a protected computer, aggravated identity theft, cyberstalking, and obstruction of justice, Reuters reports. Guccifer, 43, became familiar to the public in 2013 for hacking the email accounts of politicians like Colin Powell and Sidney Blumenthal.
One email released by Guccifer showed George W. Bush's artwork, including a self-portrait in a bathtub. An email between Powell and European Parliament member Corina Cretu required Powell to make a statement denying the two had an affair. Notably, Guccifer was also the first source to uncover HDR22@clintonemail.com, Clinton's private email account, into which the FBI is investigating.
"I don't oppose. I go there to United States to fight. I know what I did and this is okay with me," Guccifer told The Smoking Gun.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Guccifer was sentenced in Romania in 2014 for illegally accessing email accounts of public officials "with the aim of getting … confidential data." While the Romanian court approved a temporary 18-month extradition, the details of the request are not yet public.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Today's political cartoons - January 11, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - a welcome kiss, a kiss goodbye, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 evergreen cartoons about Trump annexing Greenland
Cartoons Artists take on changing priorities, taking a putt, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The New Jersey 'UFO' drone scare
In the Spotlight Reports of mysterious low-flying aircraft provoked outlandish theories, but old-fashioned hysteria appears to have been to blame
By The Week UK Published
-
Jimmy Carter honored in state funeral, laid to rest
Speed Read The state funeral was attended by all living presidents
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sentenced after Supreme Court rejection
Speed Read Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three liberal justices in the majority
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
DOJ to release half of Trump special counsel report
Speed Read The portion regarding Trump's retention of classified documents will not be publicly released
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Jimmy Carter lies in state as 3-day DC farewell begins
Speed Read The 39th president died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Giuliani held in contempt of court over forfeit assets
Speed Read He has failed to turn over $11 million in assets to two Georgia election workers he defamed after the 2020 election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden resettles 11 more Guantánamo detainees
Speed Read In an effort to reduce the number of prisoners held in Guantánamo Bay, Biden transferred 11 Yemeni detainees to Oman
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Canada's Trudeau announces resignation
Speed Read Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down after nearly a decade in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden signs boost to Social Security for public workers
Speed Read The president signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, expanding retirement benefits for millions
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published