After the massive leak of data from US secret service documents, it is now known that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has also been spied on. The FBI of the Federal Police in the state of Massachusetts is also said to have arrested a suspect in connection with the Secret Service scandal.
The British broadcaster BBC reported on Thursday that the 73-year-old Portuguese Guterres appeared to have been closely watched. Conversations with his deputy sheriff Amina Mohammed are said to have been tapped.
The US criticizes Guterres’ behavior towards Russia
It was also revealed that the United States considers Guterres’ behavior towards Russia to be too “soft” in light of the war in Ukraine.“The need to respect the integrity of UN communications extends to all member states,” Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York. He lamented that private conversations were “distorted and made public”. But the Secretary General has been a public figure for some time now. “So he’s not surprised that people are spying on him and eavesdropping on his private conversations.”
UN frequent espionage target
It is an open secret that the United Nations, especially at its headquarters in New York or at its headquarters in Geneva, is a constant victim of espionage attempts by some member states. Being based in the US should make it easier for US authorities to obtain classified information. But accusations of espionage are also repeatedly made against Russia and China.
First arrest in connection with data breach
A man has since been arrested who allegedly caused the data breach. As U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday in Washington, it would be 21-year-old member of the National Guard named Jack T., who ran a chat group on the Discord platform popular with video gamers. CNN showed footage of the arrest on television. American media previously spread the first details about the investigation and the alleged mole.
One of the biggest US Secret Service scandals
For weeks, secret documents from US agencies – supposedly from the CIA and the Pentagon – about the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine have been circulating on the Internet: information about arms deliveries, assessments of what is happening in the war. But also details of alleged American espionage against partners. It is unclear what is authentic and what might have been edited. For the US government, however, the matter is somehow as inconvenient as possible. Questions arise about how trustworthy Americans are, how well they protect their secrets and those of their partners, and how loyal they are to allies.
Government under enormous pressure
American media first reported the leak shortly before Easter without publishing the documents themselves. According to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, he only found out about the data breach about a week ago, while the material had been floating around the internet for weeks. Now the government rotates to satisfy partners and, above all, to find the leak as quickly as possible. The Ministry of Justice has launched an investigation.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
